Sampler by Emeline A. Howland

DateOctober 26th, 1827 (dated)

Artist/Maker Emeline A. Howland (February 27, 1819-July 30, 1873)

OriginAmerica, New Hampshire, Portsmouth

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a natural-color linen ground of 36 wefts by 30 warps per inch

DimensionsOH: 17 3/16" x OW: 17 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1994-179

DescriptionThis is a square needlework sampler worked in faded shades of yellow, green, blue, ivory, black, brown, grey/violet silk embroidery threads on a natural-color linen ground. The sampler has selvedges at top and bottom and 1/4" hem at sides. Top third of the sampler consists of:
Undulating stylistic floral band worked in cross stitch
"A-S" upper case script in cross stitch
Simple band in cross stitch
"T-Z" upper case script centered on a line with an undulating floral band on either side in cross stitch
Decorative band in cross stitch
The middle third of the sampler consists of the verse, "Who Lives To Nature Rarely Can Be Poor/ Who Lives To Fancy Never Can Be Rich", flanked by double cages with two birds in cross stitch; centered band of cross stitch; Verse, "Remember Time Will Come When We Must Give/ Account To God How We On Earth Did Live", flanked by baskets/bowls of flowers in cross stitch; and a decorative three-leaf band in cross stitch.
The bottom third of sampler consists of a two-story house with two chimneys, cellar, fence, and smaller building. Two windows of the house are open. To the left of the house is an isolated motif of a bird in cage, and a tree. To the right are isolated motifs of a large tulip and flowers in a vase, another bird in a cage, and a stag and tree on a mound of grass, and a tree.
Below this is the signature line, "Emeline A Howland Aged/ Eight Years Portsmouth Oct 26th 1827."
The sampler has a simple border of long arm cross and cross stitch on all four sides.

Stitches: cross and long arm cross
Label TextEmeline A. Howland's sampler belongs to the largest recognizable group of Portsmouth, New Hampshire samplers. They are characterized by their prominently placed house and barn. The earliest samplers from this group appeared about 1818, and as late as 1840, a sampler with a house and barn reminiscent of earlier examples was made.
Inscribed"Who Lives To Nature Rarely Can Be Poor/ Who Lives To Fancy Never Can Be Rich", "Remember Time Will Come When We Must Give/ Account To God How We On Earth Did Live"
MarkingsNone
ProvenancePurchased by source at Skinner auction, October 30, 1994.

History of sampler maker:
Emeline A. Howland was born February 27, 1819, in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Her parents were Jabez and Hannah Parker Howland. Her father filled several local offices and represented the town several years in the General Court. Emeline likely traveled to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to learn needlework.

Emeline married Frederic Parker on September 2, 1838. They lived in Barnstable where he engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits. Emeline had six children: Frederic H. (July 12, 1840-July 19, 1882), Henrietta B. (June 16, 1842-September 27, 1847), Melvin (born January 27, 1847), Henrietta B. (born October 15, 1848), Howard N.) born August 19, 1850), and Frederick (October 15, 1857-September 3, 1866). She died on July 30, 1873. "It is said that she was a lady of rare excellence of character and sweetness of disposition and was admired and loved by every one [sic] with whom she came in contact." (A BREIF GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF ARTHUR, HENRY, AND JOHN HOWLAND AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, by Franklyn Howland, 1885.)