Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Esther Maria Bull
American, 1798 - 1884
Date1812
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground; glass, wood
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of frame): 19 1/2 x 27 3/4in. (49.5 x 70.5cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside frame): 13 1/2 x 21 7/8in. (34.3 x 55.6cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 12 3/4 x 21in. (32.4 x 53.3cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside frame): 13 1/2 x 21 7/8in. (34.3 x 55.6cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 12 3/4 x 21in. (32.4 x 53.3cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
DescriptionSampler worked in medium green, cream, dark green, rust and tan silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with four rows of three alphabets, over, from left to right, a tree and a large, two-story institutional building in the Palladian style, over an inscription at the bottom. The inscription is "Esther Bull May 1812". The lines of alphabets are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. The sampler has a wide geometric flower and vine three-sided border on the sides and the top. There is pulled thread work finished with hem stitches on all four sides.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is mounted with whipped stitches to an acid-free board. It is in a modern frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2 and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the second alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in cross stitch (over one).
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading, depending on the color. The sampler is mounted with whipped stitches to an acid-free board. It is in a modern frame.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is mounted with whipped stitches to an acid-free board. It is in a modern frame.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2 and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the second alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in cross stitch (over one).
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading, depending on the color. The sampler is mounted with whipped stitches to an acid-free board. It is in a modern frame.
Object number2003.40.0
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQ/ RSTUVWXYZ ABCDEFG/ HIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdef/ ghiklmnopqrstuvwxyz."
Affixed to the back of the frame is a photocopy of part of page 134 of the Bolton & Coe book "American Samplers". It references a different sampler, one made in 1813 by "Bull, Esther M[earia]". It is described as "1813. Hartford [Conn]. Satin and cross-stitch. Wreath of vine and/ flowers, open at the bottom, where there is a basket of flowers. Sampler filled in with/ names and dates of Esther's maternal grandfather's family:/ 'William Whetten born Dec. 12, 1730./ Margaret Amy Whetten born July 4, 1739./ Were married September 7, 1756./ William Whetten Junr born July 10th, 1757./ Sarah Whetten born June 16th, 1758./ Margaret Whetten born August 23d, 1760./ Jane Whetten born January 27th, 1763./ William Whetten born June 2d, 1766./ Samuel Whetten born January 6th, 1768./ Mary Whetten born October 23d, 1771./ Ann Whetten born February 3d, 1773./ Joseph Whetten born August 23d, 1776./ William Whetten Sr. died June 7th, 1778./ Margaret Whetten Sr. died April 21st, 1809./ William Whetten Jr. died September, 1801./ Samuel Whetten died 1789./ Joseph Whetten died May 1778.'/ William W. Huntington, Esq.".
Also affixed to the back of the frame is a printed label "This artwork has been protected by 100% acid-/ free materials. These conservation measures are/ designed to protect and insure the longevity of/ the artwork.".NotesTechnique Note: The sampler looks as though it is only half of a much larger piece. The Z in the first alphabet is similar to the ones found in the Hollister (1979.68.255) piece of Glastonbury and the Hopkins (1975.17.0) piece of Salem. (Wittman 4/14/2007)
Object Note: Affixed to the back of the sampler is information referencing a different "Esther Bull" sampler from the Bolton & Coe book entitled "American Samplers". (Wittman 4/14/2007)
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