Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Amelia Hopkins
(American, 1828 - 1842)
TeacherTaught by
Mary A. Hotchkiss
Date1837
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 11 x 10 7/8in. (27.9 x 27.6cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1975.17.0
DescriptionSampler worked in dark brown, dark green, medium green, medium brown, light brown, and light gray silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross and other stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented vertically. It is laid out with eight rows of four alphabets, the numbers 1 through 10, and a motif containing the letters MH, over an inscription. The inscription is "Amelia Hopkins Sampler Wrought in the/ 9th year of her age Sept. 12th 1837/ under the instruction of/ Mary Hotchkiss./ Salem Ct". A vertical marker denotes the ends of the third and fourth alphabets. Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. There is a narrow four-sided border.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is not framed, but is accompanied by an old frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabets 2 and 4, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is not present in the first alphabet; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The letter Z is repeated twice in the first alphabet; the letter D is repeated twice in the second alphabet. The letter N in the fourth alphabet is backwards.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in Algerian eye, cross over four threads, cross over one thread, four-sided, leviathan, rice, tent, and chain stitches.
Condition: There is color run from the green threads. The sampler has minimal fading. It is not framed, but is accompanied by an old frame.
NotesGeographical Note: The borough of Naugatuck began as the Salem parish of Waterbury, also know as the Society of Salem Bridge.The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is not framed, but is accompanied by an old frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabets 2 and 4, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is not present in the first alphabet; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The letter Z is repeated twice in the first alphabet; the letter D is repeated twice in the second alphabet. The letter N in the fourth alphabet is backwards.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in Algerian eye, cross over four threads, cross over one thread, four-sided, leviathan, rice, tent, and chain stitches.
Condition: There is color run from the green threads. The sampler has minimal fading. It is not framed, but is accompanied by an old frame.
Status
Not on view
