Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Lydia Ann Perkins
Date5 December 1837
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 14 x 14 1/2in. (35.6 x 36.8cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of the heirs of Morgan B. Brainard
DescriptionSampler worked in dark green, brick red, purple, tan, light blue, dark brown, medium brown and gray-brown silk threads on a linen ground using cross stitch and other stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with eleven rows of five alphabets, the numbers 1 through 13, and the words "SEPTEMBER" and "May", over an inscription. The inscription is "Lydia Ann Perkins. Dec. 5. 1837". Certain lines (1-9 and 11) are separated by straight or meandering horizontally stitched rows. There is a four-sided straight border.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on the top, bottom and right edges, and selvedge on the left side. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are five alphabets, the numbers 1-13, the words "SEPTEMBER" and "May", plus two unidentified letters. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1, 4 and 5, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter "J" is present in alphabets 1, 2, 4 and 5. The letter "U" is present in all alphabets. The word "SEPTEMBER" is uppercase script; the word "May" is sentence case block, with "y" placed so that it does not extend below the baseline. The uppercase letters in the inscription are in script form. The unidentified letters are placed after the "T" in the first alphabet and after the "W" in the third alphabet.
Stitches: The text is done in cross stitch (over two), Algerian eye, and four-sided. Alphabets 3 and 4 are larger than the others. Each line of text is done in a different stitch and color. The sampler also includes queen, rice and others.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading, mostly on the purple. The sampler is not framed or mounted.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on the top, bottom and right edges, and selvedge on the left side. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are five alphabets, the numbers 1-13, the words "SEPTEMBER" and "May", plus two unidentified letters. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1, 4 and 5, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter "J" is present in alphabets 1, 2, 4 and 5. The letter "U" is present in all alphabets. The word "SEPTEMBER" is uppercase script; the word "May" is sentence case block, with "y" placed so that it does not extend below the baseline. The uppercase letters in the inscription are in script form. The unidentified letters are placed after the "T" in the first alphabet and after the "W" in the third alphabet.
Stitches: The text is done in cross stitch (over two), Algerian eye, and four-sided. Alphabets 3 and 4 are larger than the others. Each line of text is done in a different stitch and color. The sampler also includes queen, rice and others.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading, mostly on the purple. The sampler is not framed or mounted.
Object number1961.12.40
MarkingsTranscription of text lines: "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST/ UVWXYZ&12345678910111213/ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz/ ABCDEFGHIKLM/ NOPQRSTUVW/ XYZ.SEPTEMBER/ ABCDEFGHIJK/ LMNOPQRSTU/ VWXYZ&May/ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR/ STUVWXYZ/ Lydia Ann Perkins. Dec. 5. 1837".Subject Terms
On View
Not on view
