Title
Sampler
Creator
Date
1777
Description
A sampler composed of silk yarns on linen (American, Newport, dated Sept. 1777) by Sarah Chadwick (b. 1765), age 11. The sampler has a typical, crewel-type border. The outer border is decorated with a flowering vine motif terminating at the bottom with two yellow birds and at the top with a yellow butterfly. The cross stitch center is arranged in seven horizontal bands within a light blue border.
The top band is sewn with the alphabet in dark green block letters. The second band contains a poem in yellow thread reading "This Work in Hand My Friends/May Have When I am Dead/& Laid in Grave Sarah Chad/wick Her Sampler Made in/11th year of Her Age." The third is a wide central band with two large blue and two small yellow birds in a floral surround. The fourth band contains the alphabet in yellow script. The fifth band is sewn in green with the words "Arise, Awake Your Lamps To Take & Do/Longer Slumber You Must Then Turn/To Waite On Him Unto His Wedding (Chamber sic)." The sixth band is sewn in tan and reads "Sarah Chadwick was born Jan 27/, 1765 and made this Sept. 1777" followed by the numbers “2345678910.” The seventh band is stitched in dark brown and reads "The Blooming Rose Doth soon Decay & I a/las Must ware away Though I am young it/ May Be seen I may be Cropt While I am Green." The sampler is housed within a walnut veneer frame.
The top band is sewn with the alphabet in dark green block letters. The second band contains a poem in yellow thread reading "This Work in Hand My Friends/May Have When I am Dead/& Laid in Grave Sarah Chad/wick Her Sampler Made in/11th year of Her Age." The third is a wide central band with two large blue and two small yellow birds in a floral surround. The fourth band contains the alphabet in yellow script. The fifth band is sewn in green with the words "Arise, Awake Your Lamps To Take & Do/Longer Slumber You Must Then Turn/To Waite On Him Unto His Wedding (Chamber sic)." The sixth band is sewn in tan and reads "Sarah Chadwick was born Jan 27/, 1765 and made this Sept. 1777" followed by the numbers “2345678910.” The seventh band is stitched in dark brown and reads "The Blooming Rose Doth soon Decay & I a/las Must ware away Though I am young it/ May Be seen I may be Cropt While I am Green." The sampler is housed within a walnut veneer frame.
Cultural Origin
American, Newport
Medium
silk yarns on linen
Extent
17 3/16" x 13 5/8"
Collection
Source
Purchased by The Preservation Society of Newport County.
Identifier
PSNC.1713
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.