Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Esther Rowe Tuttle
American, 1801 - 1873
Date1812
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven linsey-woolsey ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 17 1/8 x 16in. (43.5 x 40.6cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Jane Tuttle
DescriptionSampler worked in medium brown, light green, cream, pink, yellow, blue-green, and red silk threads on a dark green plain-woven linsey-woolsey ground using cross and other stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented vertically. It is laid out with a double floral swag with center bow, over six rows of four alphabets and the numbers 1 through 13, over two inscriptions. The first inscription is "Where smiling beauties charmed the sight whose fragrance/ bless'd the vernal hours; Nectarious fruits the taste invite; and/ compensate for faded flowers; Thus when the spring of youth/ decays; Though deck'd with blossoms sweet and fair; Autumn/ a nobler scene displays; if fruits of virtue flourish there/ Summer's day from youth to age, Trifles all their cares engage;/ But when wintry storms arise, Beauty fades and pleasure dies/ Me let nobler cares employ, Cares which terminate in joy./ Ere the summer sun beams flee, Let me like the fruitful bee/ Well improve the smiling hour; Gathering sweets from every flower". The second inscription is: "Wrought by Esther R Tuttle March 17th 1812 aged 11 yrs". Certain lines of alphabets, numbers and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. The sampler has a four-sided border.
The sampler has a 3/16 inch double-turned hem on the side and the bottom edges. The selvedge is on the top edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, lowercase script in alphabet 2, uppercase block in alphabet 3, and lowercase block in alphabet 4. The letter J is present in the third alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets, except for the first alphabet. The first and fourth alphabets end in "Y"; the letters "j", "q" and "x" are missing from the second alphabet. The embroiderer uses long 's'. The "er" in "flower" is positioned over "ow".
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross (over one), satin, long and short, straight, and rice stitches.
Condition: The sampler is fragile. There is damage to the ground, particularly in the upper portion of the sampler. It probably has moderate to severe fading, depending on the color. The sampler is not framed.
The sampler has a 3/16 inch double-turned hem on the side and the bottom edges. The selvedge is on the top edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, lowercase script in alphabet 2, uppercase block in alphabet 3, and lowercase block in alphabet 4. The letter J is present in the third alphabet only; the letter U is present in all alphabets, except for the first alphabet. The first and fourth alphabets end in "Y"; the letters "j", "q" and "x" are missing from the second alphabet. The embroiderer uses long 's'. The "er" in "flower" is positioned over "ow".
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross (over one), satin, long and short, straight, and rice stitches.
Condition: The sampler is fragile. There is damage to the ground, particularly in the upper portion of the sampler. It probably has moderate to severe fading, depending on the color. The sampler is not framed.
Object number1939.27.1
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHIKLM/ NOPQRSTVWXY/ abcdefghiklmnoprstuvwyz/
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU/ VWXYZ& 12345678910111213/ abcdefghiklmnopqrstuvwxy/ Where smiling beauties charmed the sight whose fragrance/ bless'd the vernal hours; Nectarious fruits the taste invite; and/ compensate for faded flowers; Thus when the spring of youth/ decays; Though deck'd with blossoms sweet and fair; Autumn/ a nobler scene displays; if fruits of virtue flourish there/ Summer's day from youth to age, Trifles all their cares engage;/ But when wintry storms arise, Beauty fades and pleasure dies/ Me let nobler cares employ, Cares which terminate in joy./ Ere the summer sun beams flee, Let me like the fruitful bee/ Well improve the smiling hour; Gathering sweets from every flower/ Wrought by Esther R Tuttle March 17th 1812 aged 11 yrs".
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