Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Lacy Mann
(American, born 1805)
Date1813
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 9 1/4 x 9 5/8in. (23.5 x 24.4cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Miss Nellie L. Russell
Object number1952.83.0
DescriptionSampler worked in dark blue, medium blue, light blue, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, and tan silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with five rows of three alphabets, over a center flower motif flanked by an inscription, over an inscription. The first inscription is "Lacy Mann Sampler Wrought/ in the 8th year of her age/ Hartford Sept [?]th 1813". The second inscription are initials "LHH". The center flower motif is an abstract four-petal flower between four thistles growing from a thick stem. Certain lines of alphabets are separated by narrow straight borders.
The sampler has a 2/8-inch double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the second alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. In the second alphabet, five letters are repeated twice: ACDGN; one letter is repeated thrice: M; one letter is repeated four times: W. The third alphabet ends at "y". Maker uses long 's' or there is a repeat "r" in the third alphabet [Katherine - please check].
Stitches: The blue thread appears to be variegated. The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitches over two threads; it is also worked in cross stitches over one thread.
Condition: The ground is darkened and has many holes; these are located in the center and inside the border at the corners of the worked area. The sampler has light fading. The sampler is not framed.
The sampler has a 2/8-inch double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the second alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. In the second alphabet, five letters are repeated twice: ACDGN; one letter is repeated thrice: M; one letter is repeated four times: W. The third alphabet ends at "y". Maker uses long 's' or there is a repeat "r" in the third alphabet [Katherine - please check].
Stitches: The blue thread appears to be variegated. The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitches over two threads; it is also worked in cross stitches over one thread.
Condition: The ground is darkened and has many holes; these are located in the center and inside the border at the corners of the worked area. The sampler has light fading. The sampler is not framed.
Status
Not on view
