UNUSUAL FRAMED EMBROIDERED HEBREW SAMPLER. Hamburg, Germany, 1849.

Hebrew and English alphabets embroidered in red, beige, green and blue cotton cross-stitching on linen background, signed "Lottschen Froh, 1848" at bottom; above signature, depiction of bird and flowers. The whole set within a salmon velvet frame with metallic lace edging. Textile: H: 590mm x W: 590mm. Frame: 700 x 700mm.

This remarkable object was made by the great-great grandmother of the consignor. Charlotte Froh, a descendant of Reb Mendel Zell, was born in Bad Hamburg für der Höhe in 1834 and died in 1877. (See accompanying photograph and documentation). A sampler with similarities, including the placement of Hebrew alphabet, can be seen in The Jewish Museum Catalogue, Fabric of Jewish Life, (1977) no. 250, p. 128.