Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Caroline Julia Johnson
American, born 1808
Date1818
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground; glass, wood, black and gold paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of frame): 10 9/16 x 10 9/16in. (26.8 x 26.8cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside frame): 9 9/16 x 9 9/16in. (24.3 x 24.3cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 8 11/16 x 8 15/16in. (22.1 x 22.7cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside frame): 9 9/16 x 9 9/16in. (24.3 x 24.3cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 8 11/16 x 8 15/16in. (22.1 x 22.7cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. George J. Leger
DescriptionSampler worked in light browns, gray-brown, dark brown and medium brown silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with seven rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 9 followed by a zero, over an inscription at the bottom. The inscription is "Caroline Julia Johnson's/ Samplar [sic] Wrought Sept 16/ Anno Domini 1818 in the 10th/ year of her age. E. Windsor". There is a crown after the second alphabet. Certain lines of alphabets are separated by various straight, narrow borders. The sampler has a four-sided narrow border.
The sampler has a selvedge on the bottom and 1/8 inch double-turned hems on the top and sides
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 missing from the first two alphabets; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The third alphabet ends at 'y'. The number "1" is made to look like the letter J.
Stitches: The sampler is worked entirely in cross stitch over two threads. There is some stitch loss to letters AB in the first alphabet and the numbers 1 and 2. The letters 'nop' in the third alphabet and the number 3 are missing.
Condition: The sampler probably has moderate to severe fading. There is some stitch loss to letters AB in the first alphabet and the numbers 1 and 2. The letters 'nop' in the third alphabet and the number 3 are missing. There is a narrow mat. The sampler is in a modern frame.
The sampler has a selvedge on the bottom and 1/8 inch double-turned hems on the top and sides
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 missing from the first two alphabets; the letter U is present in all alphabets. The third alphabet ends at 'y'. The number "1" is made to look like the letter J.
Stitches: The sampler is worked entirely in cross stitch over two threads. There is some stitch loss to letters AB in the first alphabet and the numbers 1 and 2. The letters 'nop' in the third alphabet and the number 3 are missing.
Condition: The sampler probably has moderate to severe fading. There is some stitch loss to letters AB in the first alphabet and the numbers 1 and 2. The letters 'nop' in the third alphabet and the number 3 are missing. There is a narrow mat. The sampler is in a modern frame.
Object number2003.104.3
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHI/ KLMNOPQR/ STUVWXYZ/ ABCDEFGHIKLMNOP/ QRSTUVWXYZ&/ abcdefghijklm[nop]qrstuv/ wxy 12[3]4567890/ Caroline Julia Johnson's/ Samplar [sic] Wrought Sept 16/ Anno Domini 1818 in the 10th/ year of her age. E. Windsor".
Affixed to the back of the frame is a typed label which reads: "437-14 SAMPLER of CAROLINE JULIA JOHNSON, aged 10, dated 1818/ Sampler reads: 'Samplar wrought Sept 16 Anno Domini 1818/ in the 10th year of her age E. Windsor'(Conn)/ vari-colored cross-stitched on semi-refined linen;/ 3 alphabets; numerals; Greek fret edge border;/ Size: 1-1/2" square/ Lacing thread mounted (and matted) with museum board.". Immediately following the typed text is handwritten text: "1978".
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