Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1913.33.2 |
Object Name |
Sampler |
Description |
Large sampler of silk on linen ground. Composed of cross stitch, satin stitch, flat stitch, stem and split stitch. Pale colors most likely faded. Verse is faded to the point of being nearly unreadable. Blue, yellow, green, pink, tan, and brown. Elaborate border of zig-zagging boxes of cross stitch with flowers (tulip motif and other simple flowers and stems) in triangular voids. Pattern does not continue across bottom. Center consists of three sets of alphabet, one set of numbers through 9, and some stems followed by a verse: The fairest flower will soon decay Its fragrance loose and splendid hew So youth and beauty wears away And vanishes at the morning dew Baskets of flowers on either side of verse, stitched in different styles. Image below is yellow georgian vernacular house - 2.5 stories. Two trees of different style on either side, three baskets of flowers, and two ladies in white/pale blue dresses carry flowers toward the house. follwed by a line of interlocking flat stiches (zig-zag of triangles) and then line of strawberry motif. "Martha M.W. Locke work wrought in the 10th year of her age West Cambridge August 8th 1813." with bunch of stems and basket of flowers on sides, with zig-zagging motif with split stem of simple flowers. Verse seems to imply that this was made in commemoration of her mother (Mary Williams) who died at age 25 in 1807. Many similarities (including verse) found in Sukey Foster's sampler in collection of Smithsonian National Museum of American History https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_649885 Research shows Foster likely lived in area of current Arlington (then part of Cambridge) and she died there in 1843 |
Date |
August 8, 1813 |
Year Range from |
1813 |
Year Range to |
1813 |
People |
Locke, Martha Mary Williams Russell, James** Williams, Mary Russell, Margaret Adams Whitaker, Mary Wetherbee Foster, Sukey |
Source |
Burbank |
Collection |
Arlington Historical Society Collection |