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Sampler 1990-21
Sampler by Catherine Bett
Sampler 1990-21

Sampler by Catherine Bett

Date1825
Artist/Maker Catherine Bett
OriginScotland
MediumSilk and silk chenille embroidery threads on a worsted ground of 58 x 55 threads per inch with cotton tape and paper lining attached to a wooden stretcher (identification of fibers by microscope)
DimensionsFramed: OW: 24 3/4" x OL: 15 3/4" Unframed: OW: 14 5/8" x OL: 23 3/8"
Credit LineGift funds from Mr. and Mrs. Harold Via, Jr. in memory of Elizabeth Marshall May (Mrs. W. Peyton May)
Object number1990-21,A
DescriptionThis is a framed rectangular needlework sampler worked in shades of brown, green, gold, yellow, blue, orange, red, and cream embroidery threads on a natural color worsted ground on its original stretcher and in its original frame. The sampler has selvages at its top and bottom and a 1/8" hem at the sides. A 7/8" cotton tape is stitched to all four sides of the sampler. At the top of the sampler are swags with flowers flanking an encircled verse which reads, "Disease and pain invade our health/ And find an easy prey/ And Oft when least expected wealth/ Takes wings and flies away/ The gourds from which we look for fruit/ Produce us only pain/ A worm unseen attacks the root/ And all our hopes are vain/." Below the verse is the signature line, "Catherine Bett Her Work 1825".

The lower part of the sampler consists of a brick three-story house with four chimneys, a hip roof, and a fenced gate. The house's roof is blue, likely representing slate. The house has a central door with a door knocker, door knob, and narrow strip of windows at the top. The house features five columns of windows, four with three windows each and the central one with two windows. The house is flanked by flowering vines, trees worked in silk chenille threads, ten birds (two of which may be eagles), flowers, basket of flowers, a large dog, and two smaller houses. All of this rests on a three-colored layer of grass. The sampler is enclosed on all sides with a floral border.

Stitches: backstitch, buttonhole, chain, couched, cross, herringbone, outline, satin, and tent
Label TextThis sampler was made by Catherine Bett in 1825. Although Catherine did not inscribe her sampler with information about where she made her sampler, it is clear from the motifs on the needlework that she created it in Scotland. Her sampler is part of a larger group of Scottish samplers that all feature the same house, birds, and swags. The girls who worked these samplers were likely taught to stitch by the same teacher.
Inscribed"Disease and pain invade our health/ And find an easy prey/ And Oft when least expected wealth/ Takes wings and flies away/ The gourds from which we look for fruit/ Produce us only pain/ A worm unseen attacks the root/ And all our hopes are vain/"
Below verse is the signature line, "Catherine Bett Her Work 1825".
MarkingsNone
ProvenanceSampler was purchased from the Joynt Estate auction at Christies in January of 1990. Nothing is known of its previous ownership. Catherine Bett has not been identified.