Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Emeline Webster
(American, born 1814)
Date1824
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 11 3/4 x 18 1/2in. (29.8 x 47cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of the estate of Helen E. Royce
Object number1963.25.42
DescriptionSampler worked in brick red, yellow, medium brown, dark green, pink, and black silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross and other stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with five rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 9, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs and an empty area within which there was probably going to be an inscription, over an inscription. The inscription is "[E]meline [W]ebster [a]ged 10 years West [H]artford - 1824". The horizontal band of pictorial motifs includes, from left to right, a rose, a right-facing bird atop a sprig, a large empty space, a left-facing bird atop a sprig, and a green leafy design. Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. There is a four-sided border. The sampler is probably unfinished.
The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, right side, and bottom edges, and selvedge on the left side edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-9. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1, uppercase script in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first alphabet; the letter U is present in the first and third alphabets. Nine letters are repeated twice in the first alphabet: ACDJMNSVY; the second N is backwards. The letters GH, PQ, and YZ are missing from the second alphabet, though there is space for them.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross over one thread, and satin stitches.
Condition: The sampler has light fading; the ground has darkened. It is probably unfinished. It is difficult to tell whether it appears unfinished because it actually is or because of stitch loss. There is some evidence that there were stitches in the empty area. The sampler is not framed.
The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, right side, and bottom edges, and selvedge on the left side edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-9. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1, uppercase script in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first alphabet; the letter U is present in the first and third alphabets. Nine letters are repeated twice in the first alphabet: ACDJMNSVY; the second N is backwards. The letters GH, PQ, and YZ are missing from the second alphabet, though there is space for them.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross over one thread, and satin stitches.
Condition: The sampler has light fading; the ground has darkened. It is probably unfinished. It is difficult to tell whether it appears unfinished because it actually is or because of stitch loss. There is some evidence that there were stitches in the empty area. The sampler is not framed.
Status
Not on view
