Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Ellis Amelia Huntley
(American, 1819 - 1861)
Date1831
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 14 x 13 1/2in. (35.6 x 34.3cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1968.64.9
DescriptionSampler worked in light brown, gray-brown, brick red, dark brown and gold silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitches and other stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented vertically. It is laid out with five rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 19 followed by the number 1, over an inscription, over four rows of two alphabets and an inscription, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs and the letter M at the bottom. The first inscription is: "Ellis Amelia Huntley Aged 12 Years AD 1831". The second inscription is "EAH was born March 13th 1819". Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various borders, including straight and meandering lines. The sampler has a four-sided narrow border.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on the top and the side edges, and selvedge on the bottom edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are five alphabets plus seven additional individual letters. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1, 4 and 5, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first, fourth, and fifth alphabets only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. There are additional letters: AEIOUWY. The letter R is repeated in the third alphabet; the first instance is lowercase. The letter A is repeated in the fourth alphabet. The fifth alphabet ends at W. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in rice, satin, Algerian eye, closed herringbone, and chain stitches.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading. It is not framed.
NotesHistorical Note: The embroiderer was a schoolteacher. (Hunt 6/21/2007)The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on the top and the side edges, and selvedge on the bottom edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are five alphabets plus seven additional individual letters. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1, 4 and 5, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first, fourth, and fifth alphabets only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. There are additional letters: AEIOUWY. The letter R is repeated in the third alphabet; the first instance is lowercase. The letter A is repeated in the fourth alphabet. The fifth alphabet ends at W. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in rice, satin, Algerian eye, closed herringbone, and chain stitches.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading. It is not framed.
Status
Not on view
