Maria Carpmail

This 18th century sampler, worked by a very young girl, offers excellent composition and subject matter along with fine stitching. It is signed,” Maria Carpmail Finished this Work in the Eight Year of Her Age1796.” 

The pictorial register is particularly handsome with details such as smoke that emanates aggressively from the chimneys and a checkerboard base to the house. We also admire the two bunny rabbits and the strong deep green pine trees. 

Along with the Lord’s Prayer and another religious text, Maria stitched two rows of motifs. One is centered on a fat bird with a twig in his beak and a large butterfly, with strawberries, flowering plants and baskets of flowers set on a narrow deep green lawn, and the other a lineup of crowns and coronets. 

Worked in silk on wool, the sampler is in excellent condition. There are several very small weaknesses to the wool; the needlework is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in its fine, original maple frame with a gilt liner.