Mid-19th Century American Miniature Sampler by Ann McLean

A young American girl named Ann McLean completed this small or sampler most likely in the second quarter of the 19th century. The needlework measures about 8” square and the condition is remarkably good, just a little toning and a few lost stitches here and there. Set on acid-free mat behind conservation glass in a modern wood grain-painted frame, the needlework measures about 11” squared framed. Ann added delightful touches to what would otherwise be a simple marking sampler. After five lines of alphabets and numbers, worked in blue and beige threads, she added a nicely done scrolling horizontal border with her name centered underneath and also worked in blue: “Ann McClean”. Under her signature she placed a basket of fruit stitched in brightly colored words. She added another “Ann” to the left and placed two tiny motifs to the right (the bottom one resembles a duck, the other possibly a flower). Her final touch is the pair of vertical strawberry borders standing like columns to either side of her signature & pictorial section. Combined with the blue scrolling border above it creates a cartouche like effect that is very pleasing to the eye. Enclosed on all four sides with a simple line border there are several varied horizontal borders separating each of her “marking” lines.

There being so many Ann McLeans is would be impossible to  attribute the sampler to any one girl. The sampler dates to the second quarter of the 19th century. I purchased it from a collector who purchased it in New York but could have originated anywhere in the United States.

New frame includes museum-quality conservation glass, spacer and acid-free materials.

Sight: 8 3/8” x 8 3/4”

Frame: 13 1/4” x 13 1/2”