Mary Staples,

Mary Staples’ fine sampler, dated 1801 in Roman numerals, features excellent and very specific depictions of birds and flowers accomplished in embroidery. The four-line verse that she included was written as a hymn by Isaac Watts (1694-1748); it reads, “A Wake my Heart arise my Tongue / Prepare a tuneful Voice / In God the Life of all my Joys / Aloud Will I rejoice.”

The sampler was worked in silk on wool; the needlework is in excellent condition but there is some loss to the wool background. It has been conservation mounted and stabilized and is now in a molded and black painted frame.