Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Sarah Clyrana Durkee
American, born 1823
Date29 September 1836
MediumEmbroidery: silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
Frame: wood, plexiglass
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of frame): 11 1/4 x 11 1/4in. (28.6 x 28.6cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside of frame): 10 1/2 x 10 1/2in. (26.7 x 26.7cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside of frame): 10 1/2 x 10 1/2in. (26.7 x 26.7cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Marguerite Riordan
DescriptionSampler worked in dark brown, light brown, brown-gray, medium green-gray, and light green-gray silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross (over two threads) and Algerian eye stitches. The sampler is square. It is laid out with six rows of four alphabets and the numbers 1 through 13, over three inscriptions. The first inscription is "Be open generous just and true/ In all you think and say and do." The second inscription is "Sarah Clyrana Durkee/ Aged 13 years. Born/ June 13th 1823." The third inscription is "Hampton September 19 1836." There are various motifs throughout the sampler, including a florette design in each corner. Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various borders, including straight and meandering lines. The sampler has a four-sided, Greek key border.
The sampler has a 1/8 inch double-turned hem on all four sides.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 3, uppercase script in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 4. The letter J is present in all alphabets; the letter U is present in the second, third and fourth alphabets. The first alphabet ends at J. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitches (over two threads); it is also worked in Algerian eye stitches.
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading, depending on color.
The sampler has a 1/8 inch double-turned hem on all four sides.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 3, uppercase script in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 4. The letter J is present in all alphabets; the letter U is present in the second, third and fourth alphabets. The first alphabet ends at J. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitches (over two threads); it is also worked in Algerian eye stitches.
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading, depending on color.
Object number1995.91.2
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHIJ/ ABCDEFGHIJKLMN/ OPQRSTUVWXYZ/ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST/ UVWXYZ&12345678910111213/ abcdefghijklmnopqrsstuvwxyz/ Be open generous just and true/ In all you think and say and do./ Sarah Clyrana Durkee/ Aged 13 years. Born/ June 13th 1823./ Hampton September 19 1836.".
A label on the back of the frame reads, in typewritten form,"TEXTILE CONSERVATION/ Wendy Ingram/ 43 Lawrence St/ Boston 02116/ (617)536-8246" followed by the hand-written words "WASHED & MOUNTED/ SEPT. 1988".
On View
Not on view
