Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Susannah Lester
American, born 1782
Date1792
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 10 1/2 x 7 3/4in. (26.7 x 19.7cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionMarking sampler worked in medium browns, dark brown, light pink, cream, and medium green silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross stitches over two threads. The sampler is rectangular, oriented vertically. It is laid out with ten rows of three alphabets, the numbers 1 through 14, and an inscription, over the letter W. The inscription is "SVSALESTER/ OF PRESTON IN THE/ 10 YEAR OF HER/ AGE 1792". Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow meandering borders. There is a narrow four-sided border. The sampler is unfinished.
The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, right side, and bottom edges, and selvedge at left side edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets plus one additional letter, and the numbers 1-14. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is not present in any alphabet; the letter U is present only in the second and third alphabets. The letter V is missing from the third alphabet. The "s" in the third alphabet may be a long 's'. The additional letter is W. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The sampler is worked in cross stitches over two threads. There is some practice stitching in the bottom section.
Condition: The sampler has some stains and minimal fading. The sampler is not framed.
The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, right side, and bottom edges, and selvedge at left side edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets plus one additional letter, and the numbers 1-14. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letter J is not present in any alphabet; the letter U is present only in the second and third alphabets. The letter V is missing from the third alphabet. The "s" in the third alphabet may be a long 's'. The additional letter is W. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The sampler is worked in cross stitches over two threads. There is some practice stitching in the bottom section.
Condition: The sampler has some stains and minimal fading. The sampler is not framed.
Object number1967.58.1
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHIKLM/ NOPQRSTVWXYZ/ ABCDEFGHIKLMNO/ PQRSTUVWXYZ12/ 34567891011121314/ abcdefghiklmnopqrst/ uwxyz SVSALESTER/ OF PRESTON IN THE/ 10 YEAR OF HER/ AGE 1792/ W".
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