Very Naive 19th Century New England Alphabet Sampler with Zig Zag on (Equally Expressive) Homespun tattooed woman made in Vienna

made in Vienna

which I am guessing indicates this was either painted at or previously owned by Wellesley College

Both in great vintage condition

My guess is that this piece dates to the second half of the 19th century--based both upon looking at a lot of other wooden pull toys

which focuses attention all the more so on those handles

Very Naive 19th Century New England Alphabet Sampler with Zig Zag on (Equally Expressive) Homespun tattooed woman made in ViennaSo many different sorts of samplers to love, for different reasons. As far as alphabet samplers go (simple ones like this are also called marking samplers), I see a lot of lovely early examples around New England, with precisely embroidered, densely packed letters marching along perfectly straight lines, and I do very much admire them. But much less often do I come across an example as naive, and so, as expressive, as this one. And I think small ones