Sampler (Fancy sampler)

Description

This is a fancy sampler worked in 1797 by Martha Taylor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Martha attended Leah Bratten Galligher's school, which opened in Lancaster early in 1797. Martha's instructress, Mrs. Galligher, is thought to have developed this sampler style herself. Many of her student's samplers survive - they embody the typical style of sampler seen throughout the region. This fancy sampler is the earliest known example from Mrs. Galligher's school, and was wrought even before the school's opening was advertised. At school Martha also worked a marking sampler dated 1798. Oddly, Martha's fancy sampler seems to have been worked before her marking sampler.