Lot 2510

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER

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CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

Starting Bid: $1,000

(0 Bids)

by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
June 27, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
2177 Green Valley Lane
Mt. Crawford, VA, US 22841

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER, silk on linen, nine alphabet and numeral rows segmented by horizontal bands of decorative stitching including two foliate vines, lower third with signature of "Elizabeth Horlbeck 1812" between two tulip vines and above a group of pictorial motifs featuring two crosses, two eight-point stars, a heart above a flower basket, and two pairs of birds flanking flowers, all encompassed by a stylized flower vine border. Housed under glass in a modern frame, old handwritten note taped to backing paper under a transcription, which reads "Elizabeth Horlbeck 1802-1891 / eldest daughter of Henry and Margaret Buckingham Horlbeck - married Dr David Geiger - This sampler was made by her in her childhood / Given to her Great-Grand-Niece, Katharine M. Marron / December 25th 1924 / from Emma Julia Ficken". Dated 1812. 11" x 15 1/4" sight, 18 1/2" x 23 1/4" OA.
Catalogue Note: Identified as Elizabeth Horlbeck, who was born in October of 1802 in Charleston, South Carolina to parents Henry Horlbeck (1776-1837) and Margaret Buckingham (1778-1835). She had at least ten siblings who lived past infanthood. Elizabeth married Dr. David Geiger (1806-1875), and they did not have any children. The couple remained in Charleston until both of their respective deaths. According to her husband's death record, he practiced medicine and engaged in agriculture as his profession. Elizabeth died on June 17, 1891 and is buried along with her husband in the Horlbeck family plot at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, SC.
The author of the handwritten note is Emma Julia Blum Ficken (1848-1929), the daughter of one of Elizabeth's sisters, Ester Horlbeck Blum (1813-1861). Emma was the second wife of John Frederick Ficken (1843-1925). His first wife was Margaret Horlbeck (1847-1873), being the daughter of Elizabeth's brother, Henry Horlbeck, Jr. (1800-1872), and a cousin of Emma. John Ficken and Margaret had a son, Henry Horlbeck Ficken (1872-1940), who was the father of Katherine Ficken Marron (1898-1990), being the "Great-Grand-Niece" mentioned in the note.

  • Provenance:

    Weschler's Auctioneers & Appraisers, 2/25/2006, lot 529.

  • Condition:

    Very good visual condition with linen having some toning and stains, a linear area of thinning or other imperfection to linen, some thread with light fading and typical fugitive color, frame with minor wear. Not examined out of frame.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000