Hellen Mitchell,

Hellen Mitchell, age 14 and living in Scotland, perhaps in the Stirlingshire region, worked this praiseworthy, classic sampler with a depiction of a fine house with ornate wrought iron fences and gates. Details such as the paneled front door and fanlight window, the large open-tail peacocks and the pair of red gate posts with birds perched on top indicate how much time and attention was lavished on this scene. A fine border, with its alternating flowers, provides an excellent framework for the composition. 

The verse, which begins, “Thy holy word of grace and truth / Shall be the guardian of my youth,” is one not commonly found on samplers. It is likely that the initials, JM, that appear twice on her sampler were those of her parents. 

Other samplers sharing these characteristics are known to have been made in Stirlingshire and we are grateful to the collector and scholar behind antiquesamplers.org for calling these to our attention. 

The sampler was worked in silk on wool and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in a molded and black painted frame.