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Sampler

EmbroidererEmbroidered by Clarissa Cheney American, 1774 - 1850
Date1788
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 4 x 8in. (10.2 x 20.3cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Horace Learned and Mrs. Frank Crocker
DescriptionMarking sampler worked in light brown, dark brown, and pink silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitches over two threads. The sampler is rectangular, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with two rows of one alphabet, over an inscription at the bottom. The inscription is "CLARISSA CHENEY IS MY/ NAME WITH MY NEDLE WORK/ ED THE SAME IF MY SKILL HA/ D BEEN BETTER I SHOULD/ HAVE MENDED EVERY LETTER". There is a straight narrow horizontal line between the alphabet and the inscription. There is no border.

The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on the top and side edges, and selvedge at the bottom. The sampler is not framed.

Letters and Numbers: There is one alphabet; tt is in uppercase block. The letter J is not present; the letter U is present. The text is in initial caps.

Stitches: The sampler is worked in cross stitches over two threads.

Condition: There is a stain in the lower right corner over the word "LETTER". The sampler has minimal to light fading. The sampler is not framed.
Object number1979.25.465
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:
"ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRST/ UVWXYZ1788/ CLARISSA CHENEY IS MY/ NAME WITH MY NEDLE WORK/ ED THE SAME IF MY SKILL HA/ D BEEN BETTER I SHOULD/ HAVE MENDED EVERY LETTER"
On View
Not on view
Museum purchase,  1986.13.1  Photograph by David Stansbury.  © 2010 The Connecticut Historical …
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