Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Lydia Seymour
American, 1765 - 1828
Date1775
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 11 x 8 1/2in. (27.9 x 21.6cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mrs. William S. Wise
DescriptionSampler worked in dark green, medium blue, cream, salmon, light blue, dark brown, light green, copper and black silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitch and other stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented vertically. It is laid out with several horizontal narrow bands, over two rows of one alphabet, over an inscription, over the numbers 1 through 9 at the bottom. The inscription is "Lydia Seymour made/ this Sampler August/ ye 31 1775 in the 11 th/ year of her age". The background areas of the inscription and the numbers are solidly stitched. The lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. The sampler has zig zag borders on the top and bottom edges and narrow borders on the side edges.
The sampler has raw edges that are whipped stitched to prevent fraying on the side and top edges, and a selvedge on the bottom edge. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
Letters and Numbers: There is one alphabet and the numbers 1-9. The letters in the alphabet are lowercase block. The letter 'j' is not present; the letter 'u' is present. The letter 's' repeated; the first is long 's'. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in tent stitch.
Condition: The sampler has light to moderate fading, depending on the color. The sampler has raw edges that are whipped stitched to prevent fraying on the side and top edges. There may be stitch loss above the alphabet. There are several stains. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
The sampler has raw edges that are whipped stitched to prevent fraying on the side and top edges, and a selvedge on the bottom edge. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
Letters and Numbers: There is one alphabet and the numbers 1-9. The letters in the alphabet are lowercase block. The letter 'j' is not present; the letter 'u' is present. The letter 's' repeated; the first is long 's'. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in tent stitch.
Condition: The sampler has light to moderate fading, depending on the color. The sampler has raw edges that are whipped stitched to prevent fraying on the side and top edges. There may be stitch loss above the alphabet. There are several stains. The sampler is not framed or permanently mounted. It is encased in a covered mat.
Object number1984.38.0
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"abcdefghiklmnopqrs/ stuvwxyz &c./ Lydia Seymour made/ this Sampler August/ ye 31 1775 in the 11 th/ year of her age/ 123456789".
Subject Terms
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