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1958.605.1, Sampler
Sampler, Potter and Clark Family Record by Elizabeth Potter Clark
1958.605.1, Sampler

Sampler, Potter and Clark Family Record by Elizabeth Potter Clark

Date1835
Artist/Maker Elizabeth Potter Clark (1824-1894)
OriginAmerica, Connecticut, New London
MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 28 x 28 threads per inch (fiber identification by eye)
DimensionsOverall: OH: 15 3/4 x OW: 16 1/4in. (40 x 41.3cm) Framed: OH: 20 x OW: 20 5/8in. (50.8 x 52.4cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1958.605.1
DescriptionThis is a family record sampler stitched by Elizabeth Potter Clark. The work has a strawberry border and symmetrically-arranged groups of flowers, flowers in baskets, and hearts along its top, stitched with blue, gold, white, pink, green, and brown threads. This group is underlined by a flowering border. Next is the family record, which features the names and birth dates of Elizabeth's parents, along with their date of marriage. The birth dates (and if relevant, death dates) of the Potter Clark children follow. Below this listing is a depiction of a house, blue trees including a weeping willow tree, and birds. It is evident, given its spacing and the fact that the date is after Elizabeth completed the sampler, that Elizabeth stitched the name and birth date of her brother Alexander after he was born.

Stitches: chain, cross over two, queen stitch
Label TextSamplers played an important role in the education of young girls in the early nineteenth century for they were used to instruct in both sewing and reading. That the completion of a sampler was a moment of great pride for its youthful maker is evidenced in the possessively triumphant statement stitched across the bottom of this example. The sampler records the history of Elizabeth Clark's family, the marriage of her parents, and the arrival of the children in quick succession, followed by the equally rapid and untimely demise of several of her siblings. Although she carefully listed each family name and date, Elizabeth Clark managed to misspell the month of her own birth!
InscribedEmbroidered in cross stitch through the central section of the work is "FAMILY RECORD/ William Holt Clark was/born September 6 1795/Susan Potter was born/January 1 1798/ Was married February 3 1822/Mary Stockman was born November 20 1822 died Sep 3 1823/ Elizabeth Potter was born Febuary 17 1824/ William Stockman was born August 15 1825 died Novr 8 1826/ Ann Holt was born September 1 1827/Susan was born July 14 1832/Ellenor Holmes was born June 3 1834 died March 2 ‚ 1839/Alexander Merrell was born Oct 28 1836." Across the bottom of the sampler is cross- stitched:"elizabeth Potter Clark her record Made in the 12 Year of her age NeW LoNdoN 1835."
ProvenanceJ. Stuart Halladay and Herrel George Thomas Sheffield, Mass. Halladay died in 1951, leaving his interest in their jointly-owned collection to his partner, Thomas. Thomas died in 1957, leaving his estate to his sister, Mrs. Albert N. Petterson, who was AARFAM's vendor.