Intriguing School Girl Sampler by Eliza Ann Dyer, Townsend, Massachusetts, circa 1832. Eliza Ann (1821 – 1899) was born in Townsend, Massachusetts, in 1821 to Stephen Dyer (1795 – 1859), a farmer by trade and Candace (Caldwell) Dyer (1787 – 1858), a house keeper. Stephen and Candace were married in 1817. Stephen and Candace spent their whole lives farming and Stephen died in Townsend, Massachusetts, in 1859. Eliza Ann married John S. Pollard (1820 - 1899) in 1848, and the 1850 U.S. Census has them living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with Stephen working as a Mason. The 1870 U.S. Census indicates that John was now acting as a Real Estate Agent and Eliza Ann still Keeping House. By 1880, John is now listed as a surveyor; Eliza Ann keeping house. There is no indication that they had children. Eliza Ann Dyer’s Sampler is Typical of Early Marking Samplers in many ways. It is the classic Silk-on-Linen sampler. It displays three Alphabets, 2 in Capital Letters and 1 in Lower Case. Added are the Common Numbers 1 through 9. All done in Cross Stitch Pattern. In addition, Eliza provides her Basic Information of her name, her age at making, and the year of the sampler. What Differentiates Eliza’s Sampler is the Degree of Effort she places in her Intricate Borders. Her Geometric Flower Design on the Large Decorative Border is Exceptionally Developed with the Flowering Stems presented in a Green Stem Stitch and Linked Together in both directions toward the Outer Edge and the Interior. Also Intriguing in a close examination of the Flowers emerging from each of her flowering stems are the alternating flower colors, a White Silk and a Beige Silk, the latter almost the color on the Linen. Then in Each Corner, Eliza creates a Triangular Line Linking Each Side and Embellishing Each Corner with a Larger Floral Design. Note that this Large Decorative Border is Framed on the Outside Edge of the Sampler with a Simple Dark Stitch and Inside in a Similar Fashion. The Sampler Size is approximately 12 ¾” X 16 ¾”; the Frame Size 13 ¾” X 17 ¾”. The Frame is “As Found” Original to the Piece and was Framed by Jorden Marsh in Boston, perhaps during the late 19^th century. The Back Paper has been replaced. A Very Appealing Massachusetts Sampler from 1832.

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Price $495 plus shipping

An 1826 New York State School Girl Sampler by Zorada Ransom (Jan. 27, 1814 – Dec. 15, 1903) completed when she was 13 years old living in Champlain, Clinton, New York. In 1842 she married George Dudley (June 16, 1807 – Feb. 2, 1860), Champlain, New York, who is listed as a Lumberman in the 1850 U.S. Census, with considerable assets for the time period. After George died, Zorada Dudley is listed as a Widow Keeping House in the 1880 U.S. Census, so George Dudley must have left Zorada enough money to survive until her death in 1903. Both individuals are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Champlain, New York. Within the border of the Sampler, there is an Undulating Vine Border with a House, Flower, Tree, and Square at each Corner. Within the Border are 3 Alphabets and Numbers, Her Age and Date for Completing the Sampler, and a Final Verse: “The End of Learning is to Know God and Love Him”. The Sampler is the Work of Silk on Linen in a Variety of Stitch Patterns. Measures: Sampler 12 ½” x 11 ¾”; with Frame 13 ¾” x 12 ¾”. Condition is Very Good with Minor Stains.

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Price $765 plus shipping

“Baldpates”, A Dry Point, by Frank W. Benson (1862-1951), Salem, Massachusetts, circa 1924, Edition #150, Signed in Pencil. Benson was both a Well-Known American Impressionist Painter (see Bedford’s Frank W. Benson: American Impressionist) as well as a Noted Sporting Artist Pioneering in Etching and Dry Point (see Ordeman’s Frank W. Benson: Master of the Sporting Print). This Image of “Baldpates”, an early name for American Wigeon, was done in dry point with a production number of 150. It is Signed in Pencil: “Frank W. Benson”. The Image Size is 7 3/4” x 9 7/8”; Frame Size is 15 7/8” x 17 1/4”. The Piece is in Excellent Original Condition.

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Price $695 plus shipping

Well-Designed Antique Mortar and Pestle Made from Lignum Vitae – the hardest form of wood used in making such objects – Found in Pennsylvania, circa Early 1800s. Mortar & Pestles are used for grinding herbs and spices and other cooking purposes and for compounding medications by apothecaries. By using Lignum Vitae, the Latin term for “tree of life”, this very dense and heavy hardwood has exceptional durability for continuous use in grinding. This 9” High Mortar and its 13 ½” pestle weigh approximately 15 pounds. Turned from a Sold Piece of Wood, the Base of the Mortar displays Decorative Lines and Sections leading up to a Bowl-Shaped Exterior (7 ¼” in diameter at the top), allowing a Wide Interior Bowl for Extensive Grinding (with an 8” depth). Early in its history, this Mortar was cracked, probably from being dropped, but because Lignum Vitae is so dense there was no lasting impact on its use and its Form is as Beautiful as Ever. A Prime Example of an Early Mortar and Pestle.

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Price $350 plus shipping