Rare Pennsylvania Quaker Silk Embroidery Dated 1798

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About the Item

Mary Ambler, an eleven year old from an early Quaker family living just north of Philadelphia, created this splendid portrayal of two large birds perched on a branch of a flowering tree. Its free-form and folky nature indicates a relationship to other excellent 18th century examples from Philadelphia and nearby counties. Mary was clearly an accomplished needleworker as indicated by her deft handling of the birds, flowers and leaves, as well as the little thorny plants and the strawberry plant along the base of the tree. In pen and ink she signed her work, directly on the silk, “Mary Ambler 11 MO 1798,” with calligraphic flourishes. The Ambler Family of Pennsylvania, by Mary Grace Ambler (Jenkintown, PA, 1968) publishes much information about Mary’s family. The progenitor was Joseph Ambler who “first appears in 1683 when Philadelphia had eighty houses and a population of five hundred persons.” Joseph was approximately 23 years old, a cordwainer (one who works in leather boots and shoes), who received land in the form of a “City Lott” on Chestnut Street near Fifth Street. His great-granddaughter was our needleworker, who was born on November 5, 1787. Her parents were Joseph and Sarah (Meredith) Ambler who were married in 1780 at the Gwynedd Monthly Meeting, nearby where they resided in Montgomery County. The Ambler family publication informs us that Joseph was a landowner and farmer and that the family lived on Horsham Road. Also noted is that fact that a great granddaughter owns a piece of needlework, most likely this precise piece, made by Mary in 1798. Mary attended Westtown School in Chester County, as did many sons and daughters of Quakers. She entered that school in 1814 and many of the letters that she wrote or received while there are excerpted in the aforementioned book. In 1825 Mary married Alexander Forman, also of Gwynedd Meeting, and a photocopy of their Quaker wedding certificate is in the file that accompanies the sampler. Mary and Alexander had two children, Sarah and Jane, who were born in 1828 and 1832. Mary died in 1878. Samplers and needlework are our specialty. If you are interested in more of this type of work please visit our website, www.samplings.com.

Dimensions:
Height: 17.75 in (45.09 cm)Width: 13.5 in (34.29 cm)
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
dated 1798
Condition:
The silk embroidery is in very good condition with minor loss to the silk near the bottom.
Seller Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU8583828776

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