Page 27 - Demo

Margaret Emily Lukens, Warren County, Ohio, 1855 One rarely comes across a sampler that clearly celebrates America's independence. Margaret Emily Lukens of Warren County, Ohio worked such a sampler in 1855 on which she meticulously stitched the words of the Star Spangled Banner and further decorated her work with an eagle holding within his beak a banner proclaiming \commemorative date of 1776. It is a privilege to offer this praiseworthy sampler, unique within the body of known needlework. \\ arren County is in the southvestern corner of Ohio and the Lukens family, of Quaker origins, had in settled the area from the early 19th century. The first setlement of the county was established in 1795 and Warren County was formed in 1802, named for Gen. Joseph Warren \\'ho fell at the battle of Bunker Hill. The population grew teadily as the settlers were attracted to the fertile farmlands %u00b7et in gently rolling hills. Research indicates that Margaret Emily Lukens was the only child of a farmerand sawmill owner, John Lukens and his wife, Susanna Fawcett Lukens; .largaret was born in Warren County in 1827. She worked is sampler at age 28 when the family resided in Harveysburg. In 1859 Margaret married John E. LaFetra and they were recorded in the 1860 census as living in Lebanon, al o in Warren County. Further research will provide more information and may reveal that Margaret %u00b7as teaching before her marriage; this would be consistent with the quality of needlework that she roduced. The Star Spangled Banner enjoyed enormous popularity throughout the 19th century after it was .witten by Francis Scott Key in 1814 as he observed a battle of the War of 1812. A successful %u00b7ashington lawyer, amateur poet and hymn-writer, Key watched the overnight battle at Fort McHenry a the entrance to Baltimore's harbor, and witnessed the extremely large battle flag, 30 by 42 feet, .,%u00b7hich had been ordered by Major George Armistead, commander of the fort. The British bombardment was fierce but the flag was still flying at dawn, inspiring Key's impromptu lyrics which were put %u00b7o music within days. It wasn't until 1931 that, by Act of Congress, the song was made the official ation anthem . . largaret's sampler was indeed the work of a very accomplished needleworker. We can appreciate her %u2022 %u00b7 ny and perfectly formed letters as well as the fine basket and extravagant border of large-blossomed owers on leafy vine. Worked in silk on linen, the sampler is in very good condition with some loss and weakness to the linen. It has been conservation mounted into its original mahogany frame. ~am ler size: 17W' x 17W' Price: $22,000. AME RicA's L EADING sAMPL ER AND NEEDLEwoRK DEALER M. Finkel e; Daughter. 23