Marking Sampler

1815

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Sally Hickox

Marking Sampler

Sally Hickox

Marking Sampler

1815

Physical Qualities Silk and cotton(?) embroidery threads on linen ground, 9 x 10 1/4 in. (22.9 x 26 cm.)

Credit Line Gift of Dena S. Katzenberg, Baltimore

Object Number 1987.301

The marking of household linens was a matter of practical necessity. Numbers and initials were added to these textiles in order to keep sets together and ensure the return of linens to the proper owners when they were laundered. Linens were also used on a rotating basis so that they would wear evenly, and numbers helped in determining which pieces had been used and when. Most girls received training in this task by learning to use basic stitches to construct letters and numbers on simple "marking" samplers. Sally Hickox used tent, cross, Queen, and Algerian eye stitches on her marking sampler to form upper- and lower-case alphabets in both block and script letters as well as initials and border patterns.

Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1987; Dena S. Katzenberg, Baltimore, MD

Anita Jones, BMA, 'The Accomplished Stitch: American Samplers and Silk Embroideries from the Collection,' 5/11-7/20/97, no. 2.

"The Workwoman's Guide" 1838. pgs 5,6,181.

Inscribed: Worked in beige-gold embroidery threads from the tope are: an alphabet of 1/2" uppercase letters A-K (including J and 2 versions each of A, B, C, D, and K)/ L-V (including 2 versions each of M, N,S,T, W-Z and --; 1/2" numbers 1-9 and ) (including 2 versions of 1); lower case alphabet composed of 1./2" letters a-w (including j) /x-z (including 2 y's); a signature and date of 1/2" upper and lower case letters in black "Sally Hickox 1815"/; and alphabet of 3/4" uppercase script letters A-L (no J)/ M-V/ and W-Y; 3/4" initials "J" and "S"; and 1" initials "SH". Printed on commercial advertising label on reverse, picture of a man in 16th century custome with a palette in his hand. Writing on printed label: "ESTABLISHED 1890/ONE MAY LIVE AS LONG WITHOUT PICTURES/AS WITH THEM BVT NOT SO WELL/PVRNELL ART COMPANY/407 N. CHARLES STREET/ BALTIMORE-VSA/ PVBLISHERS AND IMPORTERS OF/PICTVRES AND OBJECTS ART/MANVFACTURERS AND DESIGNERS OF/PICTVRE FRAMES AND MIRRORS". (note V used instead of U).