Nancy Bozyol Lane

This large and beautifully worked sampler, made in 1784 at the renowned school of Sarah Stivours in Salem, Massachusetts, has recently come to light and we are delighted to be able to offer it for sale.  

More importantly, we present the following article by Mary Yacovone regarding Sarah Stivours, her school, the outstanding samplers made there and this samplermaker, Nancy Bozyol Lane (1771-1836).

Nancy signed her work unusually, using her middle name as if a surname (the last letter of which was stitched on the line above). This was the surname of her wealthy maternal grandfather, and records show many spelling variations including Bezoil, Bazoil, Bozoil and Bezoill. It’s also possible that Nancy ran out of space and therefore didn’t include her own surname.

Detail from sampler by Nancy Bozyol Lane

Exhaustive research confirmed the samplermaker’s identity and the following article provides the result of such for the families of both Sarah Stivours and Nancy Bozyol Lane. 

Worked in silk, with accents of metallic thread, on linen, the sampler is in very good condition with some loss to the silk. It has been conservation mounted and is in a molded and black painted frame with UV filter glass. 
 

photo of reverse