Family Register

EmbroidererEmbroidered by Sarah Ann Yale (American, 1817 - 1864)

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Levi Yale (American, 1780 - 1845)

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Anna Guy (American, born 1800)

Date1827-1847

MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 19 3/8 x 19in. (49.2 x 48.3cm)

ClassificationsTextiles

Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Yale Hall

Object number1975.16.0

DescriptionFamily register worked in medium green, light green, medium brown, light brown, cream, dark brown, dark blue, and dark green silk threads on an undyed plain-woven linen ground using cross stitch over two threads and other stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented vertically. It is laid out with the words "Family Register", over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs, over ten rows of family details, over two inscriptions, over a pictorial scene at the bottom, within which is a third inscription. The first inscription is "What a smiling aspect boes the/ love of parents and children of/ brothers and sisters of friends/ and relations give to every/ surrounding object and every/ returning day". The second inscription is incomplete: "The hope of future happiness/ is a perpetual source of/ consolation to g". The third inscription is "Be virtuous and be happy Sarah Ann Yale". The pictorial motifs include, from left to right, a basket of flowers, an unidentified motif, and two baskets of flowers. The second basket of flowers is centered and larger than the others. The pictorial scene includes, from left to right, a plant with flowers leaning left, a basket of flowers, a large three-steepled church with a four-paneled center door with a 15-paned window on either side and a large round second story window above, a basket of flowers, and a plant with flowers leaning right. All of these items sit atop a grassy landscape. It is within this grassy landscape that the third inscription is located. The three rows of parental detail are separated by straight lines. The seven rows of children detail are in two columns, with names and births on the left side and deaths and ages on the right side. The columns are separated by a straight vertical line. There is a four-sided stylized floral/vine border.

The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. It has nail holes along all four edges. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted.

Letters and Numbers: The first letters in the words "Family", "Register" are in uppercase script. Uppercase letters in the family details are in block and script forms. The uppercase letters in the inscriptions are in block form. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter "g", are placed so that the descender does not extend below the baseline. In the last entry of the family details age "5 yrs 6 mo" is worked as "5 yrs 6 m" with the "o" placed immediately above the "m".

Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross over two; it also includes cross over one, chain and half cross stitches.

Condition: The sampler has light fading and light stains. It has several large holes at the top edges and corners. There are nail holes along all four edges. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.

NotesHistorical Note: The donor, Elizabeth Yale Hall, was the daughter of Jennie Holcomb Yale (1866-1949) and John Blakeslee Hall (b. 1861). Jennie Holcomb Yale was the daughter of Bertrand Leland Yale (b. 1820) and Chloe Elizabeth Holcomb (b. 1836). Bertrand Leland Yale is listed on this sampler; he is the son of Levi Yale (1780-1845) and Anna Guy Yale (b. 1800).

Technique Note: According to 1987 report by conservator Elena Phipps, the ground has a 32 thread-per-inch warp and weft. Her notes also indicate that the pink thread was dyed using safflower. (Hunt 3/19/2007)

Status

Not on view