Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Abigail Williams
(born 1782 or 1783)
Date1794
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 12 1/4 x 12 1/4in. (31.1 x 31.1cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. James Shepard
Object number1907.11.0
DescriptionSampler worked in blue-green, dark green, black, light blue, medium brown, pink, cream, rust and yellow-green silk threads on a linen ground using cross stitch over two threads and other stitches. The sampler is square. It is laid out with a horizontal geometric design, over four lines of alphabets, the numbers 1-7, and the date, over two inscriptions, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs at the bottom. The first inscription, worked in two different color threads, is a literary verse, "This Needle Work Of Mine Doth/ Tell When I Was Young I Learned/ Well And By My Parents I Was / Taught Not to Spend My Time In/ Naught". The second inscription is "Abigail Williams Aged 11 Years". The word "Years" is worked as "Yea" with "rs" placed immediately above "ea". The pictorial motifs include, from left to right, a flower, a lion with crown on head facing left, a flower, a tree, a basket of flowers, a tree, a flower, a lion with crown on head facing right, and a flower. The motifs are not in scale. The lines of alphabets and numbers are separated by straight horizontally stitched rows. A straight horizontally stitched row is also found beneath the verse. There is a four-sided border.
The sampler has a 2/8-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. There is pulled thread work finished with hem stitches on all four sides. This, along with a four-sided stitched border, makes up the border design. The sampler has visible unevenly spaced nail holes. It is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-7. The letters are uppercase block in both alphabets. The letters "J" and "U" are missing from both alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter "y", are placed so that the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The first alphabet and the numbers are stitched in cross stitch (over two). The second alphabet is stitched in Algerian eye. The sampler also includes cross stitch (over one) and hem. Letters and numbers are worked in various colors. The verse is worked in two colors.
Condition: The sampler has a large stain in the upper right section. The sampler has moderate fading, especially to the threads in the first section of the first inscription. It has unevenly spaced discolored nail holes at the edges. The sampler is not framed or mounted.
The sampler has a 2/8-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. There is pulled thread work finished with hem stitches on all four sides. This, along with a four-sided stitched border, makes up the border design. The sampler has visible unevenly spaced nail holes. It is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-7. The letters are uppercase block in both alphabets. The letters "J" and "U" are missing from both alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter "y", are placed so that the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The first alphabet and the numbers are stitched in cross stitch (over two). The second alphabet is stitched in Algerian eye. The sampler also includes cross stitch (over one) and hem. Letters and numbers are worked in various colors. The verse is worked in two colors.
Condition: The sampler has a large stain in the upper right section. The sampler has moderate fading, especially to the threads in the first section of the first inscription. It has unevenly spaced discolored nail holes at the edges. The sampler is not framed or mounted.
Status
Not on view
