Pictorial sampler by Elizabeth Martin, dated 1825, depicting Rock Ford plantation house. Silk embroidery on linen is 3 shades of blue, dark green, light green, white, black, grey, and at least 4 shades of brown (including tan). Original frame is likely walnut with reeded molding and corner blocks; lapped corner joints.
Strawberry vine border. Alphabet top is centered over 1825 date and flanked by 8-pointed star each side. Beneath date is brick residence, showing front and gable end, believed to be Rock Ford plantation house. The 3-bay dwelling has 2 arched doorways, 8 windows, and two chimneys. House is flanked by a near-symmetrical arrangement of 2 large flowering tree motifs at each side; outer one surmounted by a large bird. Small crown at each side next to border.
Three verses below house; main verse at center states: "Elizabeth Martin is my name / Lampeter is my Station / heaven is my dwelling Place / and christ is my salvation / When i am dead and in my Grave / and all my bones are rotton / When this you see remember me / Least i should be forgotton." Flanked by verse of wisdom at left and religious verse at right, each framed by a flowering vine. Under verses is a horizontal row of 9 sets of initials all ending in the letter "M", certainly indicating Martin family members.
Bottom third of sampler is a large, central flowering plant flanked on either side by confronting female figures, each holding a bird on raised hand toward the central floral motif. Each woman is standing in front of a large satin-stitch embroidered haystack(?), with a large bird atop each.
See NOTES.
Photos: Negative is "Samplers" #43c. Slides are 45-3-1 to 45-3-6 and 45-9-3 to 45-9-8
Provenance
Inherited by Winona Ressler, then passed on to sister Elizabeth Ressler (Findley) upon Winona's death. Maker was the great, great, great grandmother of donor's wife Elizabeth Ressler Findley (born July 31, 1918) and her sister Winona. Descent in family through their maternal grandmother. Family history states sampler was made when Elizabeth Martin was 10-12 years old.
Research: Parents of Ressler sisters were Jacob and Emma K. Mowrer Ressler. Maternal grandmother was likely Mrs. Mowrer?
Age darkened linen. Dark around edge to upper left, across top, above house and around upper right edge area. Slight fraying in some areas around edge.
Stain around stem of right flower in bottoom central flowering design motif. Two dark stains above the word "my" in right phrase, a 3rd stain to right at base of flowering plant.
Conserved and remounted in original frame by Dora Shotzberger of Winterthur in 1986.
Object ID
P.85.05
Notes
Sampler is possibly influenced by the Leah Galligher school of Lancaster Borough. See Betty Ring, "Girlhood Embroidery" Vol. II pp. 410 ff.
Place of Origin
Lampeter Twp.
Credit
Heritage Center Collection through the generosity of James Hale Steinman Foundation
