Family Register
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Mary Ann Savage
American, 1816 - 1887
Dateabout 1825
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 17 1/4 x 12 1/2in. (43.8 x 31.8cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionFamily register, or memorial sampler, worked in dark green, medium brown, cream, dark brown, black, light green, tan and light salmon silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitch and other stitches. The register is rectangular, oriented vertically. It is laid out with a pictorial motif, over the words "Family Register", over seven rows of family details, over an inscription, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs on the bottom. The inscription is "[Illegible (possibly "Wrought by")] Mary Ann Savage in the [illegible]th/ year of her age". The pictorial motif at the top consists of two birds facing each other atop a floral design with center beehive atop a grassy landscape. The horizontal band of pictorial motifs at the bottom include, from left to right, a field with two trees and a fence, a steepled church, a bush, a right-leaning willow tree, an urn atop a monument, and a tall plant. These motifs are not in scale. The inscription in the monument is "Sacred to the me/ mory of SS who/ died Sept 3 1818". The register has a wide geometric vine and strawberry four-sided border.
The register has a 3/16-inch doubled-turned hem on the sides, and selvedges at the top and bottom edges. The register is not framed.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the register is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in cross (over one), satin, gobelin, long and short, half cross, chain, outline and straight stitches.
Condition: There is stitch loss to the last line of family details and to the inscription. The register has minimal fading. The register is not framed.
The register has a 3/16-inch doubled-turned hem on the sides, and selvedges at the top and bottom edges. The register is not framed.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the register is cross stitch (over two); it is also worked in cross (over one), satin, gobelin, long and short, half cross, chain, outline and straight stitches.
Condition: There is stitch loss to the last line of family details and to the inscription. The register has minimal fading. The register is not framed.
Object number1987.165.0
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"Family Register"
Transcription of family details (from left to right):
"Seth Savage/ born April 1st 1790"
"Phobe Ward was/ born Mrch [sic] 24th 1791"
Transcription of text lines:
"and Maried[sic]/ May 15th 1813/ Maria was born Feb 11th 1814/ Mary Ann was born June 6th 181?/ [Illegible (probably "Seth")] was born [illegible] 6th [illegible]/ [Illegible (possibly "Wrought by")] Mary Ann Savage in the [illegible]th/ year of her age/ Sacred to the me/ mory of SS who/ died Sept 3 1818".
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