Harriot Heathorn

This sampler offers wonderful appeal on many levels - unusual subject matter, strong color palette and excellent needlework. In addition, the samplermaker was only “Aged 8 yrs”!

A verse commemorating Easter is featured on the sampler. It reads, "The holy feast of Easter was injoin'd / To bring Christ resurrection to our mind / Rise then from [sin] as he did from the grave / That by his merits he your soul may save." A book entitled, Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries by Marcus Huish, first published in London in 1913, indicates that this verse was found on a sampler made in 1761. We have not seen it previously. 

We love the outstanding pair of Maccaw birds that flank the delightful and somewhat theatrical swags of silver-blue draperies and the pair of beautifully worked large crowns below them. Across the center of the sampler Harriot stitched, “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation,” with a little word that she forgot initially set into the space just above. The alphabet along the top shows each upper-case letter followed by the same in lower-case, all in very fine stitching. The border is also excellent - a graceful, organic vine of flowers and shaded leaves. 

Harriot Heathorn was born on May 11, 1805, to Thomas and Ann (Williams) Heathorn of Cranbrook, Kent, England. In 1823, she married John Pollard and they had five children. 

The sampler was worked in silk on wool and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in its fine original figured maple frame with a gilt liner.