Mary Harrison's Sampler
- Description
- In upper half of sampler, flanking verses, flowering plant with birds flying overhead, and lady and gentleman under tree. Man wears short flared coat and carries cane; lady wears elaborate hat, long-sleeved dress, and pantalettes, and carries small bag with long ribbon straps and what appears to be furled parasol. In lower half, large flat-roofed building with tall windows and columns. On flat roof recessed second story also flat-roofed but with large semicircular window. Building stands on lawn (or hill) flanked by trees, urns of flowers, and spotted dog. Border of geometric strawberry vine on all four sides. Silk embroidery thread on linen ground. STITCHES: cross, crosslet, queen, satin, double cross, four-sided, chain, stem. THREAD COUNT: warp 29, weft 31/in.
- Inscriptions:
- "What iS the blooming fair
And tincture of the Skin
to Peace of mind from care
And harmony within
Sickness and age will blaSt
All outward charmeS away
Virtue will Sooth at last
in deathS tremendiouS day
- See the Kind Shepherd JeSuS StandS
with all engaging charmeS
Hark how he calls his tender lambs
And folds them in his arms
- Mary Harrison Aged Eleven Years
Alexandria July 1830"
- Background:
- This may have been stitched by the Mary Harrison who was born about 1820, daughter of Reverend Elias Harrison. She married Joseph M. Newton as her second husband in 1858. Or it may have been stitched by the Mary Harrison who was born in 1818, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Carlin Harrison of Alexandria, Virginia, and who married Isaac Kell in 1841.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- sampler
- Date made
- 1830
- maker
- Harrison, Mary
- Physical Description
- linen (ground fabric material)
- silk (embroidery thread material)
- Measurements
- overall: 19 1/2 in x 16 5/8 in; 49.53 cm x 42.2275 cm
- Place Made
- United States: Virginia, Alexandria
- ID Number
- TE*T14710
- catalog number
- T14710
- accession number
- 280469
- subject
- Textiles
- Samplers
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Textiles
- Samplers
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Fred L. Walker
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