Elizabeth Mary Cole

This is an unusual sampler worked predominantly in black and very dark brown. Other than the very early, Elizabethan style of blackwork samplers, we have known of only one other sampler worked in this palette, which creates a handsome graphic. Of additional note is that fact that this was made by a girl who was extremely young - Elizabeth Mary Cole was 6 years old when "In the 7th year of her age.”

The pictorial scene is particularly appealing -  a seven-bay house with four dormer windows is set in classic English mirror-image lineup with gates, trees and little cottages. The long, horizontal fence and gate below accentuates the graphic quality. Many birds, two on the roof, provide animation along with butterflies. 

Rows of alphabets alternating with decorative bands, including a Greek key design and two stylized grape bunches, fill the top of the sampler. The religious verse is carefully worked in small stitches. The entire sampler is quite an accomplishment for such a young girl. 

The other blackwork sampler that we owned some time ago was made in London, leading us to presume that Elizabeth Mary Cole may have been the daughter of William and Judith (Bickerton) Cole of Westminster, London. They were married in 1802 and Elizabeth Mary was born on January 9, 1807, the 5th of their 7 children. The family lived at 24 Portland St, part of Portland Mews. 

Worked in silk on wool, the sampler is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and in its original molded and painted frame. 
 

photo of reverse