Object Name: Sampler
Object ID: 2008.019.01
Creator: Pillsbury, Mary Kelly (1808-1828)
Place of Origin: Candia, NH
Date: 1817
Description: Sampler. Made by Mary Kelly Pillsbury (1808-1828), Candia, NH; 1817. Three alphabets are worked in cross stitch, in upper-case block, upper-case script, and lower-case block letters. Additionally, numbers one through eight are worked on the second line following the first alphabet. Inscription at bottom: "Candia. June 1817. 22 1808. / Mary Kelly Pillsbery. Agd. 9. Bor. Mar." Flower baskets appear in each lower corner. Flowers are worked coarsely in satin and outline stitches. Plain border of black cross stitches inside the hem-stitched edge. Sampler is worked in silk threads in black, two shades of pale blue, peach, two shades of green, and cream on coarsely woven, stiff linen. A needle (possibly original) is stuck into the basket in the lower right corner. Sampler unfinished, as the lower center area is blank.
Material: Textile
Linen
Silk
Dimensions: H-13 W-12.75 inches
Provenance: Sandra S. Armentrout, the donor, is a descendant of Elizabeth W. (Pillsbury) Blanchard. Sandra is the daughter of Richard and Florence Siver. According to two letters included with the gift, Florence Siver was the niece of Ada Blanchard, daughter of Henry Blanchard and wife of Charles H. Dodge. Henry Blanchard was the youngest son of Elizabeth W. (Pillsbury) Blanchard, who made the belt (2008.19.2). Mary Kelly Pillsbury was an elder sister who died unmarried.
Credit Line: Gift of Sandra S. Armentrout
People:
Pillsbury, Mary Kelly (1808-1828),
Armentrout, Sandra S. (1940-2009)