Sarah Hunking
England or America, 1737
A very good, early sampler, this is signed, “SARAH HVNKING / HER SAMPLER SE / PTEMBER THE 27 / 1737.” Just above that is a very interesting band that combines a handsome geometric pattern with a charming little flower arrangement in a double-handled basket.
Sarah stitched two alphabets, each of them includes the early form of the letter A, with the cross-bar at the top, and does not include the letters J or U. Of course, this is the case with all alphabets used on samplers for many, many years, up until the end of the 18th century. The letters I and V were used in their place, as we see in her surname which was, no doubt, Hunking.
The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in a modern beveled frame. A photo of the back of the sampler was taken prior to conservation mounting.
photo of reverse