TidesNet—Online Collections Entry Detail

DescriptionA mid-19th century hand stitched sampler that according to stitched writing on the sampler dates to 1847 and was made by 11 year old Margaret Ann Duckerton of Eastport, Maine. There appears to be some discrepancy as to Margaret Dunkerton's actual age at the time she made the sampler or the date of the sampler as records indicate she was was born in 1838 in Windsor, Nova Scotia. This would put her age at nine and not 11 when she made the sampler. Soon after Margaret’s birth, her family moved to Eastport. The making of samplers was a common activity for girls during this time as a way to help teach basic needlework skills while including the alphabet, numbers, important quotations and family history. Margaret’s sampler has several of these elements in a well made and well balanced design. There is what might represent the family house and fence at the bottom of the sampler, a quotation from the King James version of the Bible (the Book of Numbers, Chapter 13, Verse 23), and above the quotation two men in period clothing with a hawk in a tree branch on either side. Three sides of the sampler are framed with a vine like scroll. Margaret went on to marry James Lawrence in 1855 and together they had six children. She lived the rest of her life in Eastport until 1935 dying at the age of 97 and is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Eastport. The sampler was handed down through later generations of the Dunkerton-Lawrence family and eventually turned up for auction in California in 2008. The Tides Institute acquired the sampler at this auction. Photo caption: Mid-19th century hand stitched sampler that according to stitched writing on the sampler dates to 1847 and was made by 11 year old Margaret Ann Duckerton of Eastport, Maine. Artist: Margaret Ann Dunkerton Medium: Needlepoint Circa: 1847 Old Accession Number: 117 From: http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/stunning-folk-art-house-eastport-maine-family: STUNNING FOLK ART HOUSE!-EASTPORT,MAINE FAMILY SAMPLER! 4 Sold For: or Sign In to see what it's worth. Sold Date: 03/06/2008 Channel: Online Auction Source: eBay Category: Textiles, Clothing & Accessories Share on facebook Share on twitter More Sharing Services (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A THURSDAY NIGHT CLOSE RATHER THAN MONDAY)....................................................................................................................................................................................... A MODEST WHOLESALE RESERVE COMBINED WITH DAZZLING FOLK ART ELEMENTS MAKES THIS VIBRANT SCHOOLGIRL SAMPLER,WHICH DESCENDED IN THE LAWRENCE-DUNKERTON FAMILY OF EASTPORT MAINE, AN EXCEPTIONAL FIND FOR COLLECTORS WHO COVET STRONG VISUAL IMAGERY ON THEIR SAMPLERS!! The memorable sampler has a house that is captivating and the highlight of the sampler;wrapped naively in meandering vines with a solidly stitched luminescent golden roof!!!!The same golden silks are used on the windows,front door,trim,and the most exquisitely stitched running fence ,that spans almost the entire width of the sampler in the front yard of the house. And at either end of the fence,2 whimsical arching trees support vigilant,colorful hawks. The sampler descended in the Lawrence-Dunkerton family of Eastport Maine ,and included with it is a packet of family information and genealogy. The cartouche is delicately worked,a finely stitched geometric vine that frames the signature of our talented schoolgirl;"Margaret Ann Dunkerton Aged 11 years 1847"......and is itself flanked by baskets displaying folky "upside down heart flowers" .Samplermaker Margaret was the daughter of James Dunkerton ,and married James Lawrence in Eastport ,Washington County,Maine on Nov 13,1855.She had 6 children in Eastport Maine and spent her entire life t,living to almost 100 years of age,and finally passing away in 1935. Margaret's silkwork sampler not only features striking gold silk hues,but also lush deep greens,blues,and earth tones. The 2 men above the verse are depicted in charming,early 1800s clothing, with breeches and bright blue buttoned topcoats. The lower pictorial scene is very folky, and showcases the quintessance of schoolgirl artistry with a needle.....with the kind of stunning visual that is eye catching from across a large room. Once the onlooker gets closer,the fanciful vines,front yard scene,and architectural elements explode with vibrant detail. Appx 16x20 the sampler is conserved in a carved antique gold frame with vine and leaf detailing that is as sensational as the sampler itself!In extremely fine condition,the minor imperfections to the linen are superceded by dramatic contrast and exquisitely rendered silkwork that is well preserved.