Sampler

Mary C. Snead Cole (1799-1862) the mother of Sarah Anne Cole Taylor(1824-1900) completed this sampler at the beginning of 1816. The sampler was probably completed when Cole was an adolescent to demonstrate her mastery of different needlework skills. This sampler is somewhat unique because of the circular design. Traditionally square or rectangular patterns were favored when creating samplers. The verse that Cole included on the sampler is derived from Fable XXXVIII The Turkey and The Ant by English poet John Gay (1685-1732). By the beginning of the nineteenth century the verse was being used as response to Luke 6.41-42 as a moralistic teaching on censoriousness.

Collection ID: TP.2012.010.001