American Needlework Sampler, Catherine May, 1770

Catherine May, of Boston, Massachusetts, was born in Boston in 1757 to Squire Samuel May and his wife Abigail, residing at the corner of Washington and Davis Streets. Sampler worked in wool threads with bands of alphabets above a pastoral scene with a shepherd , dog and flock,the sheep worked in looped stitching, with a woman seated under a tree, her hat beside her, all in front of a large house and grounds, with birds, flowering trees and a butterfly. Needle used to stitch the work is included in the center of the composition in the beak of a bird. Signed, Catherine May Ended her Sampler in the Thirteenth Year of Her Age. (1770). 19 x 15 in. 20 x 24 in. as framed. Provenance: by descent through the family. The sister sampler, by Catherines' sister Abigail, is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum (https://philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/120883.html). This sampler was on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, for a special exhibition.
Condition Report: Condition: General wear and loss commensurate with age and use, some staining and natural deterioration of wools. Does not appear to have had any restoration and condition is as stated in the lot description. There are some separations in the stitching due to age in areas of the house in the background, in the lower window areas and areas of the house roofs. Also to the left of the house at the top of the lowest flower. As stated below, there is staining, notably in lower right corner and in the area below the signature where the sky begins. The needle used to stitch the sampler is stitched into the piece in the beak of a bird centered in the composition. The needle is rusted. The frame likely dates to the early 20thc. Condition: General wear and loss commensurate with age and use, some staining and natural deterioration of wools.