Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Hannah Comstock
American, 1793 - 1857
Date1806
MediumEmbroidery: silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed silk ground
Frame: wood, glass, gold paint
DimensionsFrame (height x width of frame): 14 x 10 1/2in. (35.6 x 26.7cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside of frame): 12 3/4 x 9 1/4in. (32.4 x 23.5cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width inside of frame): 12 3/4 x 9 1/4in. (32.4 x 23.5cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
DescriptionSampler worked in black, light green, medium brown, dark green, light brown, dark blue-green, medium blue-green, cream, and pink silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross (over two threads) and chain stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented vertically. It is laid out with seven rows of two alphabets, the numbers 1 through 13, and an inscription, over two inscriptions, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs at the bottom. The first inscription is "Excell · and · emulate · thy · prese/ nt · prase [sic] · let · thy · intrinsic · worth · thy · tribu/ te · rare · in · every · useful · art · thy · time · employ". The second inscription is "Hannah · Comstock · her · work · done · Septemb/ er 29 1806 aged · thirteen · year · and 6 months". The third inscription is "This · have · i · done · to · let · you · see/ What · care · my · parents · took · of · me". Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various borders, including straight and meandering lines. The band of pictorial motifs consists of two floral branches separated by a basket of branching flowers. The sampler has is a four-sided border of triangles separated by flowers at the top and straight vines and flowers at the sides of and bottom.
The sampler probably has a double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is in a frame (replaced).
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1 and uppercase script in alphabet 2. The letters J and U are present in the first alphabet only. The letter Y in the first alphabet is backwards. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two threads); it is also worked in chain stitch.
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading, depending on color. There is some staining to the ground. The frame is replaced.
The sampler probably has a double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is in a frame (replaced).
Letters and Numbers: There are two alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1 and uppercase script in alphabet 2. The letters J and U are present in the first alphabet only. The letter Y in the first alphabet is backwards. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch (over two threads); it is also worked in chain stitch.
Condition: The sampler probably has minimal to light fading, depending on color. There is some staining to the ground. The frame is replaced.
Object number2005.159.1
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV/ WXYZ & 12345678910111213/ ABCDEFGHIKLM/ NOPQRSTVWX/ YZ/ Excell · and · emulate · thy · prese/ nt · prase [sic] · let · thy · intrinsic · worth · thy · tribu/ te · rare · in · every · useful · art · thy · time · employ/ Hannah · Comstock · her · work · done · Septemb/ er 29 1806 aged · thirteen · year · and 6 months/ This · have · i · done · to · let · you · see/ What · care · my · parents · took · of · me".
On the back of the sampler is taped a bag with a piece of paper inside. The piece of paper reads, in handwritten form: "Hannah Comstock wife of Eben Boalf/ of Norwalk Ohio./ daughter of Thomas Comstock of/ Silver Mine, New Canaan Conn./ Great Grandmother of Gurth Williams/ ? his mother, Elizabeth Boalf/ Williams, ?/ Framed in Stamford, October 1925/ presented to Gurth Williams by/ his Mother - July 1928".
A framer's label reads: CUSTOM FRAMED/ by/ Colonial/ 259 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, Conn./ Tel. 869-4384". Directly underneath is an ink-stamped date: "May 17 1985".
On View
Not on view
