Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Ann Eliza Terry
(American, 1796 - 1837)
Date1805
MediumHand-embroidered silk on linen, archivally mounted in a wooden frame
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 15 3/16 x 12 3/16in. (38.6 x 31cm)
Frame (height x width): 16 1/4 x 13 3/16in. (41.3 x 33.5cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mrs. William S. Wise
Object number2001.23.1
DescriptionSampler worked in dark green, light green, light blue, medium brown, and cream silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented vertically. It is laid out with six rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 10, over two inscriptions. The first inscription is "Ann Eliza Terry Aged 9 years Done/ In the 30th Year of the Independence/ of the United States of America AD [one character] 1805". The second inscription is: "How blest the maid whom circling years improve/ Her god the object of her warmest love/ Whose useful hours succesive [sic] as they glide/ The book the needle and the pen divide". The background of the first inscription is solidly stitched. There are at least three small diamond shapes. The lines of alphabets and numbers are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. The sampler has a four-sided flower and vine border. The sampler is probably unfinished.
The edges of the sampler are not visible. The sampler is in a frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The letter A is repeated in the first alphabet; the letter 's' is repeated in the second alphabet. The maker ran out of room in the first inscription; the words "years improve" are worked as "years im" with "prove" positioned above "ears im". The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over one and over two threads). The background of the first inscription is solidly stitched.
Condition: The sampler probably has light fading. There are some areas of weakness in the ground. The sampler is in a frame.
The edges of the sampler are not visible. The sampler is in a frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The letter A is repeated in the first alphabet; the letter 's' is repeated in the second alphabet. The maker ran out of room in the first inscription; the words "years improve" are worked as "years im" with "prove" positioned above "ears im". The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over one and over two threads). The background of the first inscription is solidly stitched.
Condition: The sampler probably has light fading. There are some areas of weakness in the ground. The sampler is in a frame.
Status
On view
