Nancy Humphrey, Misses Patten's School, and others
Coat of Arms of the Humphrey Family
1803
Scroll
- Maker: Nancy Humphrey
- School: Misses Patten’s School
- Framer: Ruggles and Dunbar
Coat of Arms of the Humphrey Family
1803
Physical Qualities
Silk ground, silk, chenille, and gold and silver metallic-wrapped embroidery threads, metallic spangles, mica(?); original églomisé mat and gilded frame, 24 x 20-3/4 in. (60 x 52.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Whitridge, Stevenson, Maryland
Object Number
1970.54
In New England, armorials became a popular form of embroidery as families in the new democratic American nation sought to increase their importance by adapting coats of arms from British aristocracy. Girls attending the school run by the Patten sisters, Sarah (1761–1843), Ruth (1764–1850), and Mary (1769–1850), produced particularly attractive needlework coats of arms based upon the work of Boston heraldic artist John Coles, Sr. (c. 1749–1809). Nancy Humphrey created this variation of Coles’ design with central shield, fronds, and a ribbon displaying the Humphrey motto. A floral garland held aloft by a silver eagle and spangled bowknots add to the grandeur. Ruth Patten considered it important that “each young lady had a handsome framed piece on their return home,
to present to their parents.”
Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1970; Mr. and Mrs. William C. Whitridge, Stevenson, MD, by purchase, 1966; Joe Kindig ; Nancy Humphrey (1786-1832 or 1791-1822).
Lessons Learned: American Schoolgirl Embroidery
Textiles American Needlework
Betty Ring, 'New England Heraldic Needlework of the Neoclassical Period,' The Magazine Antiques (October 1993), p. 493, pl. XV.
Betty Ring, Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework 1650-1850, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993, Vol. 1, p. 205, fig. 237.
Betty Ring, American Needlework Treasures, New York: E.P. Dutton, 1987, fig. 133, p. 82 ('The Watson Arms.' by Harriet Watson.), and fig. 134, p. 83 ('The Bliss Arms.' by Sally Watson.) are two other examples of coats of arms of this school. A third example of work from this school in the Betty Ring collection is fig. 132, p.81, 'The Signal Between David & Jonathan.'
Cora Ginsburg, 'Textiles in the Connecticut Historical Society,' The Magazine Antiques (April, 1975), fig. 11, p. 723.
Betty Ring, Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework 1650-1850, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993, pp. 202-211, figs. 235 and 236.
Betty Ring, 'New England Heraldic Needlework of the Neoclassical Period,' The Magazine Antiques (October 1993), pp. 485-493.
Dean A. Fales, Jr., The Furniture of Historic Deerfield, New York: E. P. Dutton and Company, Inc., 1976, p. 280, fig. 564 (frame and mat).
'Important Americana: The Bertram K. Little and Nine Fletcher Little Collection, Part I,' Sotheby's, Sale 6526, Jan. 29, 1994 (John Coles watercolor of coat of arms). See also Elisabeth Donaghy Garrett, The Magazine Antiques (February 1974),p. 359 and p. 363.
Sotheby's, 10-22-88, lot 189 and Northeast Auctions, 8-6&7-94, lot 552.
Stephen and Carol Huber. Deming family antique silk embroidered Coat of Arts, Hartford, CT. $26,000. http://www.antiquesamplers.com/silkpict/deming.htm.
Cora Ginsburg, 'Textiles in the Connecticut Historical Society,' The Magazine Antiques (April, 1975), fig. 11, p. 723.
Betty Ring, Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework 1650-1850, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993, pp. 202-211, figs. 235 and 236.
Betty Ring, 'New England Heraldic Needlework of the Neoclassical Period,' The Magazine Antiques (October 1993), pp. 485-493.
Dean A. Fales, Jr., The Furniture of Historic Deerfield, New York: E. P. Dutton and Company, Inc., 1976, p. 280, fig. 564 (frame and mat).
'Important Americana: The Bertram K. Little and Nine Fletcher Little Collection, Part I,' Sotheby's, Sale 6526, Jan. 29, 1994 (John Coles watercolor of coat of arms). See also Elisabeth Donaghy Garrett, The Magazine Antiques (February 1974),p. 359 and p. 363.
Sotheby's, 10-22-88, lot 189 and Northeast Auctions, 8-6&7-94, lot 552.
Stephen and Carol Huber. Deming family antique silk embroidered Coat of Arts, Hartford, CT. $26,000. http://www.antiquesamplers.com/silkpict/deming.htm.
Inscribed: Embroidered on the ribbons beneath the shield design is the motto: 'Fear GOD In Life./HUMPHREY' Embroidered below the ribbons: 'NH.' Painted in gilt on the lower right corner of the original églomisé glass mat: 'N.HUMPHREY.' Written in black ink on paper on the reverse: 'ASSOCIATED WITH WETHERSFIELD CONN. C 1800' Written in blue ink on paper on reverse: 'ORIGINAL GLASS & FRAME/ EMBROIDERY DUSTED, GLASS CLEANED & BACK CLOSED by/PURNELL GALLERY 12/2/68'
