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Sampler

EmbroidererEmbroidered by Prudence B. Lathrop American, 1820 - 1897
Date5 September 1832
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 8 1/2 x 16 3/4in. (21.6 x 42.5cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionMarking sampler worked in yellow-green silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with three rows of two alphabets, the numbers 1 through 9 followed by a zero, and the numbers 1 through 4, over two inscriptions. The first inscription is "Prudence B Lathrop wrought this sampler in/ the 12 year of her age Hartford September 5". The second inscription is "Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand/ As the first effort of a youthful hand/ And while the fingers oer this canvas move/ Engage her tender heart to seek thy love/ With thy dear children let her share a part/ And write thy name thyself upon her heart". Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by narrow straight borders. There is a four-sided narrow border. The sampler may be unfinished.

The sampler has a 2/8-inch double-turned hem on the top and side edges, and selvedge on the bottom. The sampler is not framed.

Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets, the numbers 1-9 followed by a zero, and the numbers 1-4. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1, and lowercase block in alphabet 2. The letters J and U are present in both alphabets. Fifteen letters are repeated twice in the first alphabet: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO. The letter 'u' in "Wrought" is above and between the "ug" in "Wrought".

Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross stitch over one thread.

Condition: The sampler has moderate to severe fading. The sampler is not framed.
Object number1950.386.0
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:
"AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMM/ NNOOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1234567890/ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234/ Prudence B Lathrop wrought this sampler in/ the 12 year of her age Hartford September 5/ Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand/ As the first effort of a youthful hand/ And while the fingers oer this canvas move/ Engage her tender heart to seek thy love/ With thy dear children let her share a part/ And write thy name thyself upon her heart".
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