Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Jane Charity Bartholomew
American, born 1821
Date7 June 1832
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 15 1/2 x 16 1/2in. (39.4 x 41.9cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionSampler worked in medium browns, medium greens, dark green, dark blue, light blue, medium blue, cream, dark brown, and light brown silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross and other stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with five rows of four alphabets and the numbers 1 through 10, over an inscription, over two horizontal bands of pictorial motifs. The inscription is "Jane C Bartholomew's Ensample performed in the/ 12th year of her age Bristol June 7 1832". The first horizontal band of pictorial motifs includes, from left to right, a willow tree, a two-story building, a plant, a large building with columns, a right-facing bird, and a left-facing bird. The second horizontal band of pictorial motifs includes, from left to right, a right-leaning flower, a right-facing bird, a large building with columns (possibly a temple), a two-story building atop a landscape with grass, trees, and a fence, a left-facing bird, and a left-leaning flower. The motifs in either horizontal band are not to scale. The sampler has several plant and crown designs. Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. There is a four-sided border.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets plus four additional letters, and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 3, uppercase script in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 4. The letter J is present in the first, third and fourth alphabets; the letter U is present in the second, third and fourth alphabets. The additional letters are uppercase block: MNUW. The first alphabet ends at M. The letter Z is repeated in the third alphabet; the letter "s" is repeated in the fourth alphabet. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross stitch over three threads, leviathan, Algerian eye, rice, half cross, cross over four threads, four-sided, queen, ray, upright cross stitch, captive cross stitch, and leaf stitches.
Condition: There are several mended areas in the upper section of the sampler. The sampler has stains. There is light to moderate fading, depending on color. The sampler is not framed.
The sampler has a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on all four sides. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are four alphabets plus four additional letters, and the numbers 1-10. The letters are uppercase block in alphabets 1 and 3, uppercase script in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 4. The letter J is present in the first, third and fourth alphabets; the letter U is present in the second, third and fourth alphabets. The additional letters are uppercase block: MNUW. The first alphabet ends at M. The letter Z is repeated in the third alphabet; the letter "s" is repeated in the fourth alphabet. The embroiderer uses the long 's'.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross stitch over three threads, leviathan, Algerian eye, rice, half cross, cross over four threads, four-sided, queen, ray, upright cross stitch, captive cross stitch, and leaf stitches.
Condition: There are several mended areas in the upper section of the sampler. The sampler has stains. There is light to moderate fading, depending on color. The sampler is not framed.
Object number1986.13.2
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHIJKLM/ ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQR/ STUVWXYZ& No No No 12345678910/ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZZ/ abcdefghijklmnopqrs?tuvwxyz& MNUW/ Jane C Bartholomew's Ensample performed in the/ 12th year of her age Bristol June 7 1832".
Subject Terms
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