Textile fragment, embroidered

Museum Object Number 1955.0003.018

Object Name

Textile fragment, embroidered

Category

Textiles (Clothing)

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Mary Wright Alsop (Possible decorator)

Creator Notes

Mary Wright Alsop was born in Middletown, Connecticut in 1740. She was the only child of Joseph Wright (1704-1775) and Hanah Gilbert Wright (1718-1804). Her father was a prosperous farmer and brickyard owner. An only child, she received an education at Sarah Osborn's School in Newport, Rhode Island in 1754. Mary married Richard Alsop (1726-1776), also of Middletown, on April 27, 1760. Richard, from a wealthy New York family, developed a successful business as a Middletown-based West Indies merchant. Mary gave birth to ten children during their 16-year marriage, eight of which survived past infancy. Richard died unexpectedly at the age of 50, in 1776. Richard had made Mary sole administratrix of his vast estate, which took 14 years to settle. Enslaved labor afforded Mary Wright Alsop the time to produce ornamental needlework throughout her adult life. In 1792 Mary sat for a portrait by Ralph Earl, a carte-de-visite of which (1955.0003.021) forms part of the Alsop needlework collection at Winterthur. Mary died in 1829 in Middletown at the age of 89. Mary’s embroideries and knitted objects survive in several museums and private collections.

Date of Birth

1740

Date of Death

1829

Place of Origin

Middletown, Connecticut, United States, North America

Date

1700-1770

Materials

Silk; Linen; Spangles; Metallic thread

Techniques

Embroidered

Construction Description

Hand-embroidered

Dimensions (inches)

15 (L) , 13.5 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

38.1 (L) , 34.29 (W)

Object Description

Text available soon.