SCOTTISH PICTORIAL NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER, wool on linen, upper third with four bands of floral vines, middle third featuring two-and-a-half alphabet rows and two-and-a-half rows of initials featuring "WL JF GB / GL WL ML JL DL TL PL / ML JB WB RL", horizontal bands of decorative stitching segments rows, lower third having a floral vase flanked by trees and flowers, below signed "JESSY LAIDLAW / 1841". Housed under glass in a modern frame. Dated 1841. 8" x 16 5/8" sight, 10 3/4" x 19 1/2" OA. 
Catalogue Note: Probably identified as Jessy (Jessie) Laidlaw, who was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland on April 10, 1833 to parents William Laidlaw (1786-1861) and Jane Fisher (1794-1844). She was the youngest of at least nine children, and this sampler lists her parents' initials along with most of her siblings' initials, whose names were Grace, William, Margaret, Jane, Daniel, Thomas, and Peter. Jessy died on November 2, 1841, the same year this sampler is dated, at age 8 and is buried at St. Mary's and Old Parish Churchyard in Hawick, Scottish Borders, Scotland.

From the private collection of Robert Bruce, Charlotte Co., VA.

Very good visual condition with lower half of linen having two spots of mended holes in dark brown thread, thread with a few scattered losses, some thread with light fading/fugitive color, frame with wear and other imperfections, lower proper right corner with losses to laminate. Not examined out of frame.