Lot Essay
Hannah Robinson worked her lovely silk and chenille on silk sampler in 1819 at a school in Upper Providence, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The young woman was educated by Elizabeth Robinson (1778-1830) and her four sisters, none of whom married. Seven other samplers from this school are known, including one illustrated in Ethel Stanwood Bolton and Eva Johnston Coe's American Samplers (New York, 1973), pl. lxxviii, pp, 115, 216, 236 by Hannah J. Robinson, a niece of the teachers, who may or may not have been the same Hannah.
The poem the young seamstress included in this embroidery entitled Hymn 30, Winter was written by John Newton (1725-1807), who wrote many hymns and poems including Amazing Grace. Students often used poems or hymns in samplers, the unusual aspect of this sampler is the black surround emulating a black églomisé on glass, which was popular at the time. Mimicking this design was a characteristic of this specific school (Additional information provided by Carol and Stephen Huber).
The poem the young seamstress included in this embroidery entitled Hymn 30, Winter was written by John Newton (1725-1807), who wrote many hymns and poems including Amazing Grace. Students often used poems or hymns in samplers, the unusual aspect of this sampler is the black surround emulating a black églomisé on glass, which was popular at the time. Mimicking this design was a characteristic of this specific school (Additional information provided by Carol and Stephen Huber).