Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Rebecca Porter
1791-1872
Date1800
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 12 3/8 x 9 5/8in. (31.4 x 24.4cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Kate L. Hayden
DescriptionSampler worked in medium brown, medium olive, dark olive, black, light brown, dark pink, and yellow silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitch and other stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented vertically. It is laid out with four rows of one alphabet and the numbers 1 through 19, over an inscription, over five rows of one alphabet and an inscription. The first inscription is "Rebecca Porter Aged 8/ Years and 10 Months March/ 16 1800". The second inscription is "There is/ nothing of more worth/ than a mind well/ instructed". 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 has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-19. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1 and lowercase block in alphabet 2. The letter J is present in both alphabets; the letter U is present in the second alphabet. The letter A is repeated twice in the first alphabet.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two threads); it is also worked in Algerian eye and four-sided stitches.
Condition: The sampler has at least two holes; a large hole is in the upper section. It has encroached on some of the first alphabet as well as the numbers. There is stitch loss to the numbers. There are some weak areas to the ground. The sampler has moderate fading. It is not framed.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-19. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1 and lowercase block in alphabet 2. The letter J is present in both alphabets; the letter U is present in the second alphabet. The letter A is repeated twice in the first alphabet.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two threads); it is also worked in Algerian eye and four-sided stitches.
Condition: The sampler has at least two holes; a large hole is in the upper section. It has encroached on some of the first alphabet as well as the numbers. There is stitch loss to the numbers. There are some weak areas to the ground. The sampler has moderate fading. It is not framed.
Object number1900.7.0
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"AABCDEFGHIJKL/ MNOPQRSTVWXY/ Z& 1[2]34567891011/ 1213141516171819/ Rebecca Porter Aged 8/ Years and 10 Months March/ 16 1800/ abcdefghijklmnopqrs/ tuvwxyz There is/ nothing of more worth/ than a mind well/ instructed".
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