Rare Italian Sampler Repro Cross Stitch Kit Williamsburg Quaker Style

A simple Quaker-style sampler created in 1820 by a unknown Italian stitcher who simply signed her original work MNF has been beautifully recreated by Elsa Williams for her Williamsburg collection.

Worked on white cotton hardanger cloth in cotton flosses, this is a wide, and short sampler. The top third of the sampler contains an alphabet and sequence of numbers from 1 through 10; The first line consists of "A" through "U," and the second line has "V" through "Z," followed by 1 through 10. As you can see by the photo of the original below (shown for illustrative purposes only - not for sale) , you could potentially place your own initials after the number 10 if you choose to do so.

The bottom of the sampler shows a three storied house sitting in the middle of a park, with conical trees bordering the edge of the lawn. A blue vase is perched on top of the house and is filled with flowers, while a bird and a butterfly on each side of the house fly towards it. In front of the lawn on which the house sits is a gray stone wall. At both ends of the wall are large urns with various kinds of flowers in them.

The entire piece is surrounded by a narrow border of coral-colored flowers separated by leafy stems. This border also separates the alphabet, numerals, and initials from the house scene.

Size: 22" x 12.5"

Kit Contains: White cotton Hardanger fabric, cotton floss, needle, complete directions. Proudly made in the USA

Artist: Unknown Stitcher MNF, Italy c 1820

Manufacturer: Williamsburg by Elsa Williams courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Condition: c 1980/Vintage New

Photo of Original Italian Quaker Style Sampler M.N.F. Provenance Exhibition collection: Ginsburg & Levy, July 7, 1952 Housed in Williamsburg Collection; (Original Shown for Illustrative Purposes only, Not for Sale. )