Earliest We Know Of, 1800-Dated American Memorial Sampler of GEORGE WASHINGTON

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2024

1800-Dated Federal Period, American Memorial Sampler Textile, DEATH OF GEORGE WASHINGTON Decorative with Important Tribute In Poem Form, Among the Earliest Known Made After Washington's Death, Hand-sewn by Rosina Meeser, Framed, Fine. An important American Made Hand-Stitched Textile Memorial Samplers is among the earliest known in tribute to General / President George Washington upon his death. This Sampler was Hand-sewn by Rosina Meeser and has her sewn date at bottom reading "1800". It measures about 23" tall x 18" wide, produced using multicolored threads including; Green, White, Silver, Golden, Olive, and deep black all being hand sewn to off-white toned cotton linen. The threads at its outer borders show that it was attached to a backing for display, which appears likely its original wooden backing board. Displayed within a simple wooden frame that measures 25.5" tall x 20.5" wide, with gold-gilt paint which is likely not original, and it has seen much use and wear with nicks and chipping. There is some overall fading, tone and dye color bleed spread at the lower portion from the thread itself, mostly in the bottom two lines of the poem. However, the historic text still remains clear and readable. George Washington died on December 14th, 1799 at his beloved home of Mount Vernon. This authentic period Sampler was completed by Meeser, and is dated "1800" in its hand-sewn text in small numbers next to the maker's name at bottom located at center, just above and fitted within the border design reading: "Rosina - 1800 - Meeser". Her name and the date were created using very light golden thread which blends against the underlying tan cloth and backing, making it quite difficult to read. However, it is absolutely original to this Sampler and provides the critical information as to the name of it's maker and date. This "1800" dated George Washington Memorial Sampler is decorative in design with floral patterns for outer borders. The alphabet is displayed at the top portion shown in both upper and lower case. Additional decorative devices are used as separators. The original Poem in Tribute to Washington reads, in full: "And is it so, Is WASHINGTON no more, Fame blow a blast to startle every shore, Let every shore the solemn note rebound, Till universal nature catch the sound__ The awful sound to announce that stroke of Fate, The death of all that's glorious, good and great, Of all that kindred angels stoop'd to scan, The brightest wonder of that wonder man, And could not goodness, could not greatness save, Nor human glory rescue from the grave, Could not a nation's sighs, a nation,s prayers, Procure for ONE a ceasless round of years, Could not a mail of virtue guard his heart, And turn aside the ruthless conqueror's dart, Could not that arm, which Independence won, That eye, all piercing as its fire, the sun, That GodliKe mein, that sword, that nodding plume, Unnerve the tyrant, stay the warrior's doom, But must the hero with the beggar fall, And is the silent tomb the lot of all." (Below the Poem) Written in light silver thread reads: "Rosina - 1800 - Meeser". Overall condition is modestly superior to many other examples of Samplers from this time period. This "1800" dated American George Washington Memorial Sampler is important being among the earliest known to have been made after Washington's death.

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