Sampler

Object Name:

Sampler

Object ID:

1949.024.01

Creator:

Gookin, Martha C. (1820-1906)

Place of Origin:

Boscawen, NH

Date:

1831

Description:

Sampler. Made by Martha C. Gookin (1820-1906), Boscawen, NH; 1831. Silk embroidery on loosely-woven linen ground. Five alphabets, all worked in tan silk twist: first, block capital letters A through O in cross stitch; second, script capital letters A through W in cross stitch; third, smaller scale block capital letters A through U in Algerian eye stitch; fourth, block capital letters A through Z followed by numbers one through ten in cross stitch; and fifth, lower-case block letters a through z worked in cross stitch. Across the lower section of the sampler is worked the inscription, "That life is long / Which answers lifes Great end / Martha C. Gookin wrought / this at the age of 10 years AD 1831." Surrounding the inscription block on three sides is a thorny green vine with large flowers worked in untwisted crinkly silk floss in colors of tan, cream, pale pink, blue, and pale yellow. Stitches include satin stitches laid with back stitches, as well as regular satin and back stitches. All edges are hemmed. The verse is line 773 from Night V, Night-Thoughts, 1742-1745, by English poet, Edward Young (1683-1765).

Material:

Textile
Linen
Silk

Dimensions:

H-16.25 W-17.5 inches

Provenance:

Martha C. Gookin (1820-1906) was the grandmother of donor, Grace Foster Simons (1875-1949) of West Palm Beach, FL.

Credit Line:

Bequest of Grace Foster Simons

People:

Gookin, Martha C. (1820-1906), Simons, Grace Foster (1875-1949), Young, Edward (1683-1765)

Subjects:

Acorns, Flowers, Embroidery