Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Catharine Sheldon
(American, born about 1827 - 1840)
Date1837
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven linsey-woolsey ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 11 1/4 x 10 5/8in. (28.6 x 27cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mary E. Hastings
Object number1922.6.5
DescriptionSampler worked in brick red, salmon, cream, pink, and medium brown silk threads on a plain-woven, green, linsey-woolsey ground in cross stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented vertically. It is laid out with seven rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 10, over two inscriptions. The first inscription is "Catharine Sheldon wrought this sampler in the 11th/ year of her age and in the 61st year of the Independence/ of the United States of America. Hartford August 31st". The second inscription is a religious verse, "Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand/ As the first efforts of an infants hand/ And while her fingers oer this canvass move/ Engage her tender heart to seek thy love". There are strawberry and vine designs at the end of the first alphabet and at the end of the numbers. Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various meandering borders, including a greek key border as well as a strawberry and vine design border. The sampler has a four-sided border.
The sampler has a 2/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, bottom, and right side edges, and a selvedge at the left edge. The sampler is not framed.
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 and second alphabets; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The letter A is repeated twice in the first alphabet. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads. It is also worked in cross stitch over one thread.
Condition: The sampler has several small holes. It has minimal fading. The sampler is not framed.
The sampler has a 2/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, bottom, and right side edges, and a selvedge at the left edge. The sampler is not framed.
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 and second alphabets; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The letter A is repeated twice in the first alphabet. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads. It is also worked in cross stitch over one thread.
Condition: The sampler has several small holes. It has minimal fading. The sampler is not framed.
Status
Not on view
