Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Electa Morton
American, 1793 - 1864
Date1804
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 16 3/4 x 17 3/4in. (42.5 x 45.1cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of the estate of Helen E. Royce
DescriptionSampler worked in dark brown, medium brown, light brown, gray, black, tan, light green, and medium blue silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross over two threads and other stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with six rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 10, over randomly placed motifs, including but not limited to birds, trees, baskets and the inscription "1804", over two cartouches, one in each corner, separated by a zig-zag band design at the bottom. The first cartouche contains the inscription "ELEC/TA". The second cartouche contains the inscription "MORT/ ON". Certain lines of alphabets are separated by straight and meandering horizontal lines. There is a narrow border at the top only.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on the top and the sides, and a selvedge on the bottom. It is not framed or mounted.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets plus three additional individual letters, and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The additional letters are uppercase block L (in two places) and uppercase script P. The letters J and U are present in alphabet 2 only. Alphabet 3 ends at the letter "r". Fifteen letters are repeated in the second alphabet: A(4), C (3), D(3), G(2), H(2), J(2), L(2), M(3), N(3), Q(2), S(3), T(2), V(2), W(5), Y(2).
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross over two; it also includes queen and cross (over one) stitches.
Condition: The sampler has light to moderate fading. It has significant loss to the ground in the upper left corner. The ground has several holes and worn areas scattered throughout. The sampler is not framed or mounted.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on the top and the sides, and a selvedge on the bottom. It is not framed or mounted.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets plus three additional individual letters, and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The additional letters are uppercase block L (in two places) and uppercase script P. The letters J and U are present in alphabet 2 only. Alphabet 3 ends at the letter "r". Fifteen letters are repeated in the second alphabet: A(4), C (3), D(3), G(2), H(2), J(2), L(2), M(3), N(3), Q(2), S(3), T(2), V(2), W(5), Y(2).
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross over two; it also includes queen and cross (over one) stitches.
Condition: The sampler has light to moderate fading. It has significant loss to the ground in the upper left corner. The ground has several holes and worn areas scattered throughout. The sampler is not framed or mounted.
Object number1963.25.46
MarkingsTranscription of text lines: "ABCDEFGHIKLMNO/ PQRSTVWXYZL/ AAAABCCCDDDEFGGHHIJJKLL/ MMMNNNOPQQRSSSTTUVVWWL/ WWWXYYZ 12345678910/ Pabcdefghiklmnopqr/ 1804/ ELEC MORT/ TA ON".NotesSubject Terms
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