Sampler by Mary Fitzgerald

Date1825

Maker Mary Fitzgerald (b. 1815)

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Nottoway County

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen (?) ground of 26 by 30 threads per inch (fiber identification by eye)

DimensionsOH: 22 1/4" x OW: 15 1/4"

Credit LineGift of The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA

Object number2023-94

DescriptionThis is a rectangular sampler worked in shades of blue, green, rust, pink, and black silk embroidery threads on a linen(?) ground. The top half of the sampler contains two sets of upper case block alphabets, one lowercase alphabet, and four sets of numerals--1-8, 9-12, 1-10, 11-13. Decorative bands divide the rows. The bottom half of the sampler is divided from the top with a large wave band. Below this is the signature line: "Mary Fitzgerald . Wrought in/ the year of our Lord . 1825". The bottom portion of the sampler contains a band with a symmetrically arranged design of birds, trees, and baskets of flowers/fruit. Below this is an embroidered scene consisting of a large brick house at bottom left, trees, birds, a man and woman, spotted dog, and a child on a pony at bottom right. The sampler is finished with 1/4" hems on all four sides.
Stitches: cross over 1 and 2, eyelet, flat, French knot, half cross, hemstitching, stem, flat
Provenance1825, made by Mary Fitzgerald [born 1815] (Nottoway County, VA); ?-1977, owned by Margaret T. Joyall [1917-2013] (Norfolk, VA); 1977-2023, given to the Valentine Museum (Richmond, VA); 2023-present, transferred to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)