Object Name: Sampler
Object ID: 1958.035
Creator: Perley, Phebe (1817-1861)
Place of Origin: Winchendon, MA
Date: 1829
Description: Sampler. Made by Phebe Perley (1817-1861), Winchendon, MA; 1829. Silk threads on linen worked with three alphabets in cross stitch: the first, capital block letters; the second capital script letters; the third lower-case block letters. The date 1829 is worked on the fourth line following the second alphabet. Below the alphabet lines is the inscription, "Wrought by Phebe Perley Winchendon Aged 12 years." At the bottom of the sampler (leaving a broad blank space) is a scene of a white house flanked by poplar trees; a willow tree appears on the right. A fence runs across the scene, with grass and flowers in front. A variety of stitches is used in this scene: satin stitches and closely laid back stitches form the house; closely laid back stitches form the grassy foreground; the rust-colored fence is worked in straight stitches, while the flowers are worked in eyelet, French knots, and outline stitches. Crinkled silk embroidery floss adds texture in this scene. A cross-stitched border of rust/tan/cream-colored ovals set within a zig-zag line is worked across the top and down the right and left sides. The left side of the linen is selvage; the other edges are hemstitched.
Material: Textile
Linen
Silk
Dimensions: H-16.15 W-17.25 inches
Provenance: Mary Sanders, the donor, was the sister of Clara Frances (Sanders) Howe (1891-1954). Mary Sanders donated the sampler in memory of her brother-in-law, Edmund B. Howe (1878-1946), who was the grandson of Phebe (Perley) Howe (1817-1861).
Credit Line: Gift of Mary Sanders, in Memory of Edmund B. Howe
People:
Perley, Phebe (1817-1861),
Howe, Edmund B. (1878-1946),
Sanders, Mary (1889-1982)
Subjects:
Flowers,
Trees,
Houses,
Embroidery