Sampler by Sarah Wistar Morris

Date1824 (dated)

Maker Sarah Wistar Morris (1813-1826)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (probably)

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 29 x 31 threads per inch (identification of fibers by eye)

DimensionsUnframed: OW: 12 3 /4" x OH: 17"

Credit LineGift of Beatrix T. Rumford

Object number2006-59

DescriptionThis is an unfinished alphabet sampler worked in faded shades of green, ivory, yellow, and pink on a darkened natural-color linen ground. The sampler is hemmed with a 1/4" hem at top, bottom, and right side. It has a selvage at left side.
The top fifth of the sampler consists of the signature line: "Sarah Wistar Morris/ in the 10th year of her age 1824" flanked by large flowers. Below the signature line is a band of double row of cross stitch. The remaining portion of the sampler consists of alphabets and numerals:
"A-R" upper case block worked in cross stitch
Band of undulating flowers worked in cross stitch
"S-Z" upper case block worked in cross stitch, single queen's stitch, "1-10" worked in cross stitch
Band of cross stitch
"a-z" lower case block worked in cross stitch
Band of cross stitch
"A-I K L" upper case script worked in cross stitch
Band of eyelet stitch
"M-U" upper case script worked in cross stitch
Band of cross stitch
"V-Z" upper case script, diamond motif, and "S W" worked in cross stitch
Band of cross stitch
"A-R" upper case block in foursided stitch
Band of triple row of cross stitch
"S-Z" upper block, diamond motif, "1-9" worked in foursided stitch
Band of cross stitch
"A-R" upper case blockm worked in cross stitch
Bottom row is void.
The sampler is enclosed on all four sides in an undualting floral and vine border.

Stitches: cross over two, eyelet, foursided, and queen
Label TextIn addition to reinforcing the learning of numerals and the alphabet, samplers, like this one, taught young girls needlework skills. This alphabet sampler was created by Sarah Wistar Morris ((1813-1826), a twin daughter of Caspar Wistar Morris (1764-1828) and Elizabeth Giles Morris (1774-1832) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her twin sister, Elizabeth Clifford Morris (1813-1892), created an almost identical sampler in 1824.
MarkingsPenciled on paper on back of sampler: "Made by Sarah Wistar Morris of Philadelphia in 1824/ great great aunt of Rumford children & the/ little girl for whom the doll house was made./ She died a few years later."
Label on paper on back of modern frame is from Purnell Art Company, 407 W. Charles Street, Baltimore/ Established in 1890.
ProvenanceSarah Wistar Morris (1813-1826) was a twin daughter of Caspar Wistar Morris (1764-1828) and Elizabeth Giles Morris (1774-1832) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Caspar W. Morris was disowned by the Society of Friends, for joining a troop, which was sent to quell the Whiskey Insurrection in 1794; Elizabeth Giles was disowned for marrying him.) Sarah's twin sister was Elizabeth Clifford Morris (1813-1892). Elizabeth Clifford Morris married Samuel Canby (1811-1875) in 1832. They had a least one son (1833-1836) and a daughter, Elizabeth Morris Canby (1848-1933), who married Charles Grubb Rumford (1841-1901) and through which many family pieces descended to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Rumford, II, and their daughter Miss Beatrix T. Rumford.