Family Register
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Alma Elizabeth Hawley
(American, born 1830)
Date1843
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 16 x 18in. (40.6 x 45.7cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1975.35.0
DescriptionFamily register worked in medium brown, light blue, dark brown, gray-brown, yellow-green, black, light brown, medium blue and cream silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross (over two) and four-sided stitches. The register is squarish, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with four rows of three alphabets, the numbers 1 through 10, and an inscription, over eight rows of family details, over an inscription, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs, over a large horizontal zig-zag band at the bottom. The first inscription is "Bethlem Connecticut". The second inscription is "Made by Alma E Hawley in the 13 year of her/ age 1843". The pictorial motifs include equally spaced miscellaneous marking motifs. Certain rows (2,3,5) of alphabets, numbers and text are separated by straight and meandering horizontally stitched lines. There is a jagged line immediately below the second inscription. The family register has at least three small diamond designs and a four-sided border.
The family register has a 3/8-inch double-turned hem on the top and bottom edges, and selvedges on the right and left edges. The register is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. There is an unusual "s" in alphabet 3. The letter "J" is omitted in alphabet 1; it is present in the others. The letter "U" is present in all alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter "g", are placed so that the descender does not extend below the baseline. In the first entry of family details the date is worked as "Janyth7 1801"; in the third entry the date "June 11 1826" is worked as "June 11" with "1826" placed immediately above "e 11"; in the eighth entry the date "Mch 9 1841" is worked as "Mch 9 184" with the "1" placed immediately above "4".
Stitches: The family register is stitched using cross (over two) and four-sided stitches. The principal stitch is cross stitch; the second inscription is worked in four-sided stitch.
Condition: The family register has light to moderate fading, depending on the color. The ground has some stains, visible center horizontal and vertical folds, and two splits on the bottom edge. The family register is not framed or mounted.
The family register has a 3/8-inch double-turned hem on the top and bottom edges, and selvedges on the right and left edges. The register is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. There is an unusual "s" in alphabet 3. The letter "J" is omitted in alphabet 1; it is present in the others. The letter "U" is present in all alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter "g", are placed so that the descender does not extend below the baseline. In the first entry of family details the date is worked as "Janyth7 1801"; in the third entry the date "June 11 1826" is worked as "June 11" with "1826" placed immediately above "e 11"; in the eighth entry the date "Mch 9 1841" is worked as "Mch 9 184" with the "1" placed immediately above "4".
Stitches: The family register is stitched using cross (over two) and four-sided stitches. The principal stitch is cross stitch; the second inscription is worked in four-sided stitch.
Condition: The family register has light to moderate fading, depending on the color. The ground has some stains, visible center horizontal and vertical folds, and two splits on the bottom edge. The family register is not framed or mounted.
Status
Not on view
