Description:

School samplers run the gamut from rudimentary alphabets to decorative designs, and lucky for us Mary Evans had both the skills and the teachers to create a complex piece. Evans is a common name in Wales that without a place locator we would not have been able to track her genealogy.

The oval center cartouche with sprigs of flowers applied to it. The detailed information on Wales reinforces our knowledge that the teachers of the Pwllhely (pu-shell-ee) School were very competent. Motifs surrounding the cartouche include a bowl of fruit, birds, flowers (including some in urns) and a pair of ships, with a fair amount of empty space between the motifs. Anchoring the bottom is a strip of lawn, a pair of dogs and a pair of rose bushes in urns flanking a large bird. Mary's signature and date is sandwiched between the herringbone stitched lawn and the lower border. The sampler is completed with an alternating band of strawberries on all four sides. The colours of the stitching have remained bright and the wool ground is remarkably clean, with very little age related yellowing. With some small moth holes, the sampler is quite good shape.

Size (W x H): 13 1/4 x 16 1/4 inches

Stitches: Cross, cross-over-one, satin, herringbone, padded satin

Media: Wool on wool

Genealogy:

Mary Evans was born in 1799, the daughter of John Evans and Catherine Owens of Llandegwing, Wales, about 10 miles outside of Pwllheli. Siblings included Jane (1795), Evan Jones (1796), Owen (1805), Catherine (1808), John (1812) and William (1814). Mary never married and died at the age of 83 in Pwllheli.

Verse:

Wales

Is 180 Miles long and 80
broad was Joined to 
England In the Year 1282 under
Edward the first whose Eldest Son
was declared Prince of Wales since
which all the eldest Sons was of
the Kings of England have been
Prince of Wales as soon as born.
WALES is divided into Twelve
Counties Six North Wales and Six
South Wales. Pembroke
Carmarthen Glamorgan Brecknock
Radnor and Cardigan are in South 
Wales - Montgomery Merioneth
Caernarvron Denbig Flint and
the Isle of Anglesea in North Wales

The Welch are Honest Brave
and Hospitable

Mary Evans her work Pwllhely School October 31 In the Year of Our Lord 1812