I purchased this one from a very knowledgable, longtime dealer of antique textiles and folk art with an exquisite eye. A few years ago I purchased a marvelous silk embroidery of a very folky bird on brown paper just like this, in original frame under very thin blown glass--one of my favorite things ever, and which immediately came to mind when I saw this. This is very early 19th century or perhaps even late 18th, American I believe, and the dealer speculated that the finely dressed woman portrayed here is black, based on her features and face appearing a slightly darker shade than the paper. I'm not certain, but sure love that graphite-drawn face whatever the case, and her very wonderful hat, which looks rather like a picket fence in front of a bank of trees! Every inch terrific, deftly communicating structure, texture and material as well as form through the way the stitches were pulled (see the folds of her golden skirt, for example) --about as pure an example of drawing with thread as it gets. Really radiant, too.

Framed overall: 12" x 10. Paper approx 7 3/4" x 6". Period frame, under glass, as found, with wood back to frame. Water stain to the paper along right edge and toning around the edges, embroidery itself in excellent condition.