Boston Sampler Leads Solid Americana Sale at Skinner

By Bob Jackman

BOLTON, MASS. - On October 28 a 1771 Boston sampler sold for $123,500 at Skinner's Americana auction. Sally Jackson's large (17 1/2 by 10 3/4 inch) sampler was an exceptional example of needlework and in astonishingly fine condition. The successful bidders were Carol and Steve Huber with the underbidder on a phone.

"Some people thought that this sampler was created at the Boston Fishing Lady School. That is not right," said Carol Huber. "The sampler was created in Boston, and it is closely related to another sampler that Skinner sold in 1985 for $25,000. This example is finer than that one. We will sell it privately so it will never go to a show."

"It is an exceptionally dynamic work with wonderfully preserved color," added Steve Huber. "With color that bright, the sampler must have always been carefully stored, and kept out of light. The combination of a highly dynamic design along with no fading is rare in a sampler. We are really happy to get it, and we were prepared to pay much more for it."

The other major news emerging from the auction was market stability in the Americana market. A large crowd attended the auction, and there were thick books of absentee and phone bids. Prices were solid with sales totaling $1,442,901 with eighty-seven percent lots selling.