Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Miranda Robinson
(American, 1831 - 1903)
Date1839
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground; glass, wood
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of frame): 19 x 19in. (48.3 x 48.3cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside frame): 17 1/2 x 17 1/2in. (44.5 x 44.5cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 16 7/8 x 16 3/4in. (42.9 x 42.5cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside frame): 17 1/2 x 17 1/2in. (44.5 x 44.5cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 16 7/8 x 16 3/4in. (42.9 x 42.5cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionSampler worked in brick red, medium green, medium blue, cream, light brown, dark brown, dark blue, rust, light green silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented vertically. It is laid out with three rows of two alphabets, over the numbers 1 through 17, over four inscriptions, over two horizontal bands of pictorial motifs at the bottom. The first inscription is "Miranda Robinson aged 8 years". The second inscription is "Say Brook July 10 AD 1839". The third inscription is "Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand/ At the first efforts of an infants hand." The fourth inscription is "The path of duty is the path of safety". The word "stand" in the third inscription follows a left bracket on the line above where it should be. The first horizontal band of pictorial motifs includes, from left to right, a tri-section heart hanging from a chain, a floral swag, and a double-heart design hanging from a double chain. The second horizontal band of pictorial motifs includes, from left to right, a right-facing bird atop a basket of flowers, a right-facing bird atop a tree, a two-story house with two chimneys, a left-facing bird atop a tree, a tree, a left-facing bird atop a tree that is flanked by two four-legged animals facing each other. Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. There is a primary three-sided border made up of a geometric flower and vine design, and a secondary narrow four-sided border on the outer edges.
The edges of the sampler are not visible. The sampler is in a modern frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-17. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1 and lowercase block in alphabet 2. The letters J and U are present in both alphabets. The word "stand" in the third inscription follows a left bracket on the line above where it should be.
Stitches: The sampler is worked in cross stitches over two threads. The word "safety" encroaches the right border.
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading. It is in a modern frame.
The edges of the sampler are not visible. The sampler is in a modern frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-17. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1 and lowercase block in alphabet 2. The letters J and U are present in both alphabets. The word "stand" in the third inscription follows a left bracket on the line above where it should be.
Stitches: The sampler is worked in cross stitches over two threads. The word "safety" encroaches the right border.
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading. It is in a modern frame.
Object number1990.142.0
On View
Not on view
