Cross Stitch by Kansas City Star Quilts
Samplers can be bought online, which has generated a lot of discussion in the blogosphere. One story in particular concerned a sampler that was advertised for sale on eBay as an antique sampler but was clearly not one. On this particular piece, there were quite a few tells that would make it simple for a knowledgeable buyer to determine whether it was an antique.
What information about antique samplers are novice sampler buyers required to know in order to avoid making a poor decision?
To find out, I went straight to the top and called Sotheby’s New York. I was immediately referred to Stephen and Carol Huber of Old Lyme, Conn. The Hubers have been in the business of selling antique samplers for more 38 years and are renowned for their expertise on the subject. They have a Web site, www.AntiqueSamplers.com, where they sell special antique samplers. It’s a treat just to view their samplers – and quite tempting. You can see some real antique samplers to get an idea of what to look for. There also is more information on their Web site about the samplers shown here.
I discussed separating the real from the fake with Stephen Huber.
Can the fabric a sampler is stitched on be used to date it?
Sometimes. However, it is impossible to accurately determine the fabric the sampler is stitched on from a photograph to make a meaningful judgment. There are times when the fabric makes it obvious that a piece is not from a specific era. Look at the background material. A warning sign would be if it were unusually white in comparison to everything else or if it had artificial-looking staining. You can tell if the fabric was intentionally wrinkled or stained with tea. If stains are going to appear at all, they usually do so around the edges. Nothing about this is guaranteed because there are so many variations, piece by piece. It is merely a general list of things to look for.
Studying the type of thread used in a sampler is possible. Know your samplers and your geographic areas before you buy. For example, Pennsylvania samplers will have wool earlier. Again, there are so many factors that you should research samplers, the locations where they are stitched, as well as sampler styles and materials, before making a purchase. Alternatively, you could simply purchase from a reputable dealer who can offer you advice.
Can colors be used to date a sampler?
Aniline dyes weren’t used until around the 1830s. Compared to earlier dyes, aniline dyes tend to produce colors that are more vivid and sharp. Nowadays, aniline dyes are widely used in yarns and silk threads. A sampler would be a sign that it was more recent if it were stitched with cotton thread rather than silk for the appropriate age. But if cotton or wool were used on samplers after 1840 or 1860, I wouldn’t be shocked. Contrarily, it would be more unusual if cotton or wool were used if they were older than 1840 to 1860.
Is Aida fabric a giveaway when determining the age of a sampler?
Of course. If you consider that background information, it is unquestionably a warning sign.
How can one tell the difference between a contemporary reproduction sampler and an actual antique piece given the popularity of reproduction samplers?
It can be challenging to locate the same yarn if they actually use an early pattern and try to recreate it. And the handwoven background is not readily available today. Not that a person couldn’t produce a fake that would deceive people. Some of the reproduction samplers are purposefully inaccurate, such as those made by Joanne Harvey of the Examination, who creates kits that even replicate mistakes in the stitches. They incorporate any errors in the original that were present in the reproduction.
Any fading that does occur will occur slightly more on the top edge of the stitches than on the edges where (the stitch) meets the canvas over time. There are methods you can employ to observe how the fading has changed over time. Over time, the rounded top will get more light than the areas next to the canvas. This creates a little shadow and will fade slightly differently. However, you can only see this under a microscope, making it difficult to discern from an online image.
You can’t tell from a picture. See the piece in person. Know the history, what is appropriate for the time period you are considering, and, if the sampler is from a specific region, whether it exhibits the characteristics that are typical of that region.
Being knowledgeable is preferable to making a mistake due to ignorance. Deal with an expert who has a good reputation if you want to be sure. You wouldn’t want to take a chance if you didn’t know anything about good antique samplers because they are so expensive. Let your intuition guide you a little bit. Don’t risk it if it seems or feels funny.
Samplers: How to Compare, a book by Hubers It is sometimes available on Amazon. com. You can email questions to the Hubers at Hubers@AntiqueSamplers. com.
Springfield, Missouri-based freelance writer Sue Fenwick She writes every Tuesday.
From the late 17th to the middle of the 18th centuries, girls and young women produced extraordinary needlework, such as amplers, silk embroideries, and canvaswork pictures. We notice attendees at our booth at antiques shows looking at needleworks and reading their tags. Some are obviously knowledgeable about the topics, while others seem confused. The question “What makes one sampler more valuable than another?” is frequently asked by those in the latter category. To the novice, it can be challenging to spot the ostensibly subtle differences that make one piece priced in the tens of thousands of dollars and another worth a fraction of that amount. Like in any industry, prices vary widely and are primarily determined by sales of items that are similar to them, condition, and appeal. Visual impact and graphic design are given top priority when evaluating needlework, closely followed by condition. We advise customers to buy fewer pieces in better condition, emphasizing quality over quantity. Here are two quick contrasts that we hope will serve as a starting point for the kinds of things one should think about when collecting vintage needlework. The four examples given here are all excellent samplers, but there are some things that set them apart in terms of valuation.
Authors of Samplers: How to Compare and well-known sampler and needlework dealers, Stephen and Carol Huber
Overall AssessmentThis sampler is very desirable due to its folk-inspired design. The birds, peacock, and cat are a unique combination. The house’s mismatched colors may indicate that Abigail began at the bottom right corner but ran out of red thread or that it was simply the color of her needle when she began the project. The fact that her teacher permitted the resulting colors to be left in place shows that she was not overly particular with them. ConditionSlight fading only slightly reduces the sampler’s value. Abigails sampler is the earliest known example in a group from Western Pennsylvania that dates between 1838 and 1847. Known School / Provenance These samplers are distinguished by their large, bold designs. Mary McCosh is listed on the sampler as the teacher. Research has shown that they were two different instructors, despite the fact that it was once believed that by getting married, she became Mary Tidball, whose name appears as the teacher on other samplers from the group.
ConditionIn excellent condition with only slight thread loss. The silk remains lustrous. Known School / ProvenancePhebe learned how to make this sampler from Mary Askew, who was a former pupil of renowned Philadelphia needlework instructor Ann Marsh. Only a few other samplers from this school are known to exist, so rarity influences its price. The large four-petal flower band in both of these samplers, which are dated forty-five years apart, shows the persistence of decorative traditions. 2Valuation$50,000 to $60,000Comparison The difference in condition makes Phebes’ sampler more valuable than the other one.
The Edmonds sampler is more valuable of these two Pennsylvania pieces due to its excellent condition, expert stitching, and graphic design. Collectors of both folk art and samplers would be drawn to the Higbee sampler, but the condition somewhat lowers its value.
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