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Sampler 1950-154
Sampler by Rebekah Osborne
Sampler 1950-154

Sampler by Rebekah Osborne

Date1728 (dated)
Artist/Maker Rebekah Osborne
OriginAmerica or England
MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 38 x 38 threads per inch, with "Z" twist
DimensionsOH: 17 3/4" (45.5cm) x 9 1/4" (23.5cm) Tape: 3/8" wide, rolled hem: 1/8" wide.
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1950-154
DescriptionThis is a rectangular needlework band sampler worked in shades of red, orange, pink, green, gold, ivory, brown, and blue on a natural color linen ground. The design is worked in bands, including six versions of the alphabet. Each alphabet is introduced with a "stylized 'A'" design. The second and third alphabets are followed by the numbers 1-11. The fourth alphabet goes only to "X" as the needleworker ran out of space. All alphabets lack "J." Only the sixth alphabet has both "U" and "V", the "Z" is followed by what appears to be an ampersand, then a jagged line and the date "1728."
Several border designs are included--zigzags or toothed lines, and floral, or floral and animals (leaves with dogs, and vine motifs composed of hearts and leaves or roses and leaves).
The center portion of the sampler consists of The Lord's Prayer worked in a variety of colors: "Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be/thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy will Be Don[sic]/In Earth As it is in Heaven Give us this Day/our Daily Bread And For Give us our trespasses/As We For Give them that Trespass against us/And Lead us not Into temPtation But Deliver/Us From Evil Amen."
Across the bottom of the sampler is a wide border dominated by a row of three large potted carnations separated from each other at the top with hearts and at the bottom with two roses. Beneath the center flower is worked the maker's name "ReBeKah OSBORne" in letters of the same height. The whole design is flanked by two small stylized dogs. The back of the sampler is very neat, and the sampler shows a mastery of stitches.

Stitches: back, cross, eyelet, hem, marking cross, satin, and tent
Label TextRebekah Osbourne's sampler is typical in shape and design to both English and American examples in the first three decades of the 18th century. It is worked in reversible stitches, creating an extremely neat reverse. This characteristic continues to be seen on Virginia samplers throughout the eighteenth and into the early nineteenth centuries.
Inscribed"Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be/thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy will Be Don/In Earth As it is in Heaven Give us this Day/our Daily Bread And For Give us our trespasses/As We For Give them that Trespass against us/
And Lead us not Into temPtation But Deliver/Us From Evil Amen."
ProvenanceProvenance before acquisition from Avis and Rockwell Gardiner is unknown.

History of Maker:
It is not known who Rebekah Osborne was, or whether she did this sampler in England or America.