Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Catherine Wadsworth
(American, 1786 - 1860)
Date1798
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 12 7/8 x 12in. (32.7 x 30.5cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1987.48.0
DescriptionSampler worked in dark greens, pink, medium green, cream, light brown and purple silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented vertically. It is laid out with five rows of two alphabets, the numbers 1 through 10 and the word "Miss", over two inscriptions, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs at the bottom. The first inscription is "Catherine Wadsworth Aged 12 years/ Done in the 23rd year of the Independenc/ of the United States of America AD [one character] 1798". The word "Independenc" encroaches the right border. The second inscription is a literary verse, "Tis Education forms the tender mind/ just as the twig is bent the tree's Inclind". The pictorial motifs include five evenly spaced trees. The largest tree is in the center. The background of the first inscription is solidly stitched. There is a multi-colored diamond after the first alphabet. Certain lines of alphabet, numbers and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. The sampler has a double four-sided border. The outermost border has a wavy design; the innermost border has a stylized vine/flower design.
The sampler has a 1/8- to 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase block in the alphabet 1 and lowercase block in alphabet 2. The letters J and U are present in alphabet 1. The letter 'j' is not present in alphabet 2; the letter 'u' is present. The letter A is repeated in the uppercase alphabet. The embroiderer uses long 's'.
Stitches: The sampler is done in cross stitch (over two and over one).
Condition: The sampler has some small holes. The sampler has minimal to light fading. It has nail holes along all four edges. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
The sampler has a 1/8- to 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase block in the alphabet 1 and lowercase block in alphabet 2. The letters J and U are present in alphabet 1. The letter 'j' is not present in alphabet 2; the letter 'u' is present. The letter A is repeated in the uppercase alphabet. The embroiderer uses long 's'.
Stitches: The sampler is done in cross stitch (over two and over one).
Condition: The sampler has some small holes. The sampler has minimal to light fading. It has nail holes along all four edges. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
Label TextTwelve-year-old Catherine Wadsworth located her embroidery within
the history of the American republic by stitching: “Done in the 23rd year
of the Independenc (sic) of the United States of America.” The solidly
worked pink background vividly sets off the dark green stitching of this
inscription. A second inscription, now difficult to read, refers to a popular
quotation by Alexander Pope: “’Tis Education forms the tender mind /
just as the twig is bent the tree’s Inclind.” Five distinctive, abstracted pine
trees link to the quote.
NotesTechnique Note: According to conservator Elena Phipps, the ground has ten threads per centimeter in the warp and the weft. The sampler is worked with warp threads running horizontally. (Hunt 4/14/2007)the history of the American republic by stitching: “Done in the 23rd year
of the Independenc (sic) of the United States of America.” The solidly
worked pink background vividly sets off the dark green stitching of this
inscription. A second inscription, now difficult to read, refers to a popular
quotation by Alexander Pope: “’Tis Education forms the tender mind /
just as the twig is bent the tree’s Inclind.” Five distinctive, abstracted pine
trees link to the quote.
Status
On view
