Mary Bates

This outstanding little sampler offers enormous appeal due to its early date, strong color and a very beautiful band of queen’s-stitch flowers in a diamond grid. Additionally, and quite significantly, all of the lettering was worked in a reversible stitch as is evident in a photo taken prior to mounting the sampler [see below].

Mary Bates began her sampler in 1741 and completed it in 1742; both dates appear on the sampler. She stitched a moralistic couplet typical of the 18th century period: “Behold Alas Our Days We Spend / How Vain They Be How Soon They End.” The alphabets lacks the letters J and U, which is also in keeping with the mid 18th century period. 

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition; it has been conservation mounted into its outstanding, original 18th century black painted frame with a sanded gold liner.

photo of reverse