4x5 transparency scanned on Hasselblad Flextight X1 by Ed Pollard-2013.

Sampler

Maker Adeline Myers

Date1798

MediumSilk on linen

DimensionsOverall: 15 1/2 x 17 3/8 in. (39.4 x 44.1 cm)

ClassificationsDecorative arts

Credit LineMuseum purchase and partial gift of Clay Barr in honor of her sister Elise Wright.

Object number98.8

Terms

Alphabet
Poems
Strawberries
Green
Black
Gold
Blue
Norfolk, VA

On View

Not on view

DescriptionThe sampler has a natural linen base with a border of ovals in a silk thread just slightly lighter than the background. It has six rows of alphabets mainly in green with some black. There is a green wavy design under the first row of letters and below that another row of letters in gold. Below that a blue and gold checkerboard border. Next are two rows of the alphabet in green, black, and gold. Under that is a border made up of green cross hatching with black and gold flower-like designs. Under that are two rows of the alphabet in green. Next is a chain like design with gold dotted centers. Below that is a verse: "The happiest man that ever beath'd on earth/With all the glory of estate and birth (1798 in gold)/Had some anxious care to make him kno'/no grandeur was above the reach of woe. The next and last line in gold reads: Adeline Myers her sampler October 8th. (Adeline left the J out of her lines of the alphabet). The stitches in the sampler include: cross over 2, Rice Stitch as double crosses and the Eyelet Stitch. There are 25 wefts x 25 warps. There are selvages at the sides and a hem at the bottom (1/4 inch hem). The top has a cut edge.

Label TextAdeline Myers American (1791-1832) Sampler, 1798 Silk on linen, 15 1/2 x 17 3/8 in. Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA Museum purchase and partial gift of Clay Barr in honor of her sister Elise Wright. 98.8