Antique Details

Southern Delaware Sussex County Sampler is most significant in the field, stitched in 1809 and from the historic Joseph-Walls family of Indian River Hundred in Sussex County; who are discussed extensively on page  254 of the monumental sampler book titled:”Delaware Discoveries”...my example was worked by Mary  who was born Oct.27,1795 in Sussex County to parents Eli Walls and Lydia Simpler, who were married January of 1795 in Sussex County. The sampler maker married William Joseph who was born 1791 in Sussex County,Delaware.Family info is included as the sampler maker’s father had extensive land holdings in Indian River Hundred, Broadkill Hundred, Dagsborough Hundred, and throughout Southern Delaware.(Family info is included).

     Mary’s sampler features the finest in American schoolgirl folk artistry with the recognizable Delaware and Sussex Co. grape cluster border (see pages 233,234,235 Delaware Book), and the most exuberant and vibrant folk art central basket filled with a myriad levels of upward reaching floral sprays.....as well as being animated with fanciful birds, delicate butterflies, an unusual charming dragonfly,