Artmink

American Mid-20th Century Folk Art Linen Cross-Stitch Sampler ('Trees' Poem), 1944

By: Signed “RUTH”, surname unknown

Style: American Folk Art; Needlework Sampler; Mid-20th Century

Origin: United States

Materials: Linen ground fabric; cotton embroidery floss; hardwood frame with glass

Age: Circa 1944 (dated in the work)

Condition: Very Good (even toning, minor foxing spots, light color fade; frame with light wear; not examined out of frame)

Value: USD $40–$120 (auction estimate)

Maker's Marks / Writing: Text: “I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE / A POEM LOVELY AS A TREE.” Signature/date at lower right: “RUTH 1944.”

Date: 2025-08-21 15:16:46.326818

Description:

Hand-stitched cross-stitch sampler on a tan linen ground within a simple varnished hardwood frame under glass. Central tree-of-life motif flanked by small birds/flowers, with deer in the lower corners and a floral vine border. The text reads: “I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE / A POEM LOVELY AS A TREE,” referencing Joyce Kilmer’s 1913 poem ‘Trees’. Signed in the lower right in cross-stitch, “RUTH 1944.” Colors include soft green, blue, rose, and brown; overall even age toning with minor spots.

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

This is a hand-made American needlework sampler from 1944, thematically drawing on the popular ‘Tree of Life’ motif and quoting Kilmer’s poem ‘Trees.’ It is not an early 19th-century schoolgirl sampler but a mid-20th-century domestic craft piece with decorative appeal. Stitching appears hand-executed (irregularities and slight tension variation are visible), and the linen exhibits even oxidation/toning consistent with age. The frame looks mid-20th century as well. A word about fakes.. Reproductions in this category often include machine embroidery or printed ‘sampler’ designs on fabric that are then artificially aged; authentic pieces typically show individual stitch irregularities, thread tails or carry-overs on the reverse, and natural, uneven toning rather than uniform staining. Overall, this appears to be a genuine 1940s hand-stitched sampler with modest collector value.

Individual Images:

whole item

Provenance:

No provenance provided.

Condition:

Very Good (even toning, minor foxing spots, light color fade; frame with light wear; not examined out of frame)

Identification Score: 95%

The object clearly presents as a cross-stitch sampler with a central tree-of-life, floral borders, deer, and the famous Kilmer verse, plus a stitched date and name. These elements leave little ambiguity about function, type, and period.

Authenticity Score: 85%

Hand stitching, period-appropriate materials, and visible age toning support authenticity as a 1940s domestic sampler. Score not higher because the reverse and mounting were not inspected (to exclude later reworking or a printed ground). A word about fakes.. Printed or machine-made samplers—often tea-stained to mimic age—are common; checking the back for thread ends and non-uniform stitch direction helps confirm handwork.

Image Memory Note

Framed sampler under glass in a medium-brown hardwood frame with simple molding. Fabric is tan/aged linen with a cross-stitched floral vine border in green and rose around the perimeter. Center features a symmetrical ‘tree of life’ with small pink/rose blossoms and green foliage, small blue flower/leaf motifs nearby, and two small animal/deer figures facing inward at the lower left and lower right. There appear to be small bird or floral motifs in blue/rose near the top. Below the tree, two centered lines of text in block capitals: “I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE” (first line) and “A POEM LOVELY AS A TREE” (second line). At the lower right corner, stitched signature/date reads “RUTH 1944.” Color palette includes greens, blues, pinks/roses, and browns. Condition observations: overall even age toning; a few small brown foxing spots, notably left of the tree and sporadically within the field; no obvious large losses or tears visible through glass; slight waviness to the fabric; frame shows light surface wear; glazing reflects light. No other inscriptions or maker’s labels are visible from the front.

Keywords

American Folk Art, Needlework Sampler, Cross-Stitch, Tree of Life, Joyce Kilmer Trees, 1944, United States, Linen

Report ID:  : vvwadq

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