Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Sarah Mitchell
American
Datelate 18th-early 19th century
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 11 1/4 x 11 1/4in. (28.6 x 28.6cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of the estate of Helen E. Royce
DescriptionSampler worked in medium browns, light browns, dark blue, black, medium greens, dark green, purple, and rust silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross stitches over two threads. The sampler is squarish, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with six rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 9, over an inscription, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs at the bottom. The inscription is "Sarah. Mitchells Aged 11 Years". The horizontal band of pictorial motifs includes, from left to right, a right-facing lion, a tree, a right-facing four-legged animal (probably a dog), a basket, a left-facing four-legged animal (probably a dog), a tree, and a left-facing lion. Also included in the band are four four-legged animals. The motifs are not to scale. The lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. There is a narrow border at the top.
The sampler has a 3/16 - 2/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, bottom, and right side edges, and a selvedge at the left edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-9. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letters J and U are present in all alphabets. The letter A is repeated thrice in the first alphabet; twenty-five letters, B-Z, are repeated in the first alphabet. The first and second alphabets present the letter V before the letter U. The second and third alphabets end at the letter X. The letter "s" in "Years" is positioned immediately above the "r" in "Years".
Stitches: The sampler is worked in cross stitches over two threads.
Condition: The sampler has extensive damage, particularly in its bottom half. It has light fading. The sampler is not framed.
The sampler has a 3/16 - 2/8-inch double-turned hem on the top, bottom, and right side edges, and a selvedge at the left edge. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-9. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letters J and U are present in all alphabets. The letter A is repeated thrice in the first alphabet; twenty-five letters, B-Z, are repeated in the first alphabet. The first and second alphabets present the letter V before the letter U. The second and third alphabets end at the letter X. The letter "s" in "Years" is positioned immediately above the "r" in "Years".
Stitches: The sampler is worked in cross stitches over two threads.
Condition: The sampler has extensive damage, particularly in its bottom half. It has light fading. The sampler is not framed.
Object number1963.25.45
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"AAABBCCDDEEFFGGHH/ IIJJKKLLMMNNOOPPQQ/ RRSSTTVVUUWWXXY/ YZZ123456789 ABCDEFG/ HIJKLMNOPQRSTVUWX/ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx/ Sarah. Mitchells Aged 11 Years".
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