Eliza Paul Gray
Sampler
Maker's Name
Gray, Eliza Paul
Location
Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, Kentucky
Date Made
1819
Maker's Age
unknown
Dimensions
17 ⅜ x 11 ⅞ inches
Medium
Silk on a linen with chain, cross over two, flat, outline, and queen stitches; thread count: 32/inch vertical x 32/inch horizontal
Provenance
Made by Eliza Paul Gray in 1819. Sampler was purchased by Bill and Joyce Subjack from M. Finkel and Daughter. Per Amy Finkel the sampler descended in the family who first lived in Lawrenceburg and then in Carrolton, Kentucky descending through Eliza's grandson Capt. George Washington Anderson who was active in the hotel, real estate and auction businesses. Purchased by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 2006.
Description
This is a rectangular needlework sampler worked in faded shades of green, ivory, gold, blue, and orange/pink on a natural color linen ground. The sampler has raw edges at sides.
The top half of the sampler consists of isolated motifs of sprigs of flowers and buds, a heart, and an ampersand. The bottom half of the sampler is divided from the top by a band of green chain stitches with small sprigs of grass. In the bottom half of the sampler is a space 6" x 8 1/4" outlined in cross stitches. Within this box is:
"A-N" in upper case block
"O-Z" in upper case block
A band of cross stitch and the signature:
Eliza. Paul. Gray.
Lawrenceburgh. A.D.
1819

Below the signature line are stylized sprigs of grass, flowers, and buds. Floral motifs sit on top of the enclosed alphabet and signature box as well. On both sides of the box is a border of bud and vine.

This sampler is marked with the place name "Lawrenceburgh," presumably for Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. By 1830, Lawrenceburg, the county seat of Anderson County and southwest of Louisville, had a small population of three hundred and twenty people.
Owner/History of Owner/Credit Line
Colonial Williamsburg Museum Purchase Acc. No. 2006-7
AKS Catalog Number
2019-014
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