Purse

Object Name:

Purse

Object ID:

1973.506

Creator:

Bartlett, Sarah (1795-1862)

Place of Origin:

Campton, NH

Date:

1819

Description:

Reticule. Square, white cotton muslin sewn on three sides. Woven cord drawstring sewn into horizontal panel along top. Inscription with scalloped floral border in drawn in ink on obverse and reverse; Obverse: "The star whose radiant beams adorn / With vivid light the rising morn; / The seasons changed with milder ray / Cheers the calm hours of parting day, / So friendship of the generous breast, / The earliest and the latest guest, / In youthful prime with ardour glows, / And sweetens lifes serener close. / Sarah Bartlet". Reverse: "Plain as this cambrick was, as plain we find, / Unlettered, unadorned the female mind; / No fine ideas fill the vacant soul, / No graceful colouring animates the whole. / By close attention carefully, in wrought; / Fair education paints the pleasing thought / Inserts the curious lines on proper ground / Complete the whole, and scatters flowers around. / Campton May 18, 1819."

Material:

Textile
Cotton

Dimensions:

H-10.125 W-9 inches

Provenance:

Made by Sarah (Bartlett) Cook (1795-1862) of Campton, NH. Donated in 1948 by the maker's great-grand-daughters, Abbie F. Mitchell (1888-1977) of Laconia and Minnie F. Gilmore (1890-1975) of Concord.

Credit Line:

Gift of Abbie F. Mitchell and Minnie F. Gilmore

People:

Bartlett, Sarah (1795-1862), Tomkins, Thomas (1743-1816), Mitchell, Abbie F. (1888-1977), Gilmore, Minnie F. (1890-1975)

Subjects:

Friendship, Calligraphy, Education, Women's education