Object Number 1975.0040 A

Object Name

Sampler (Band or marking sampler)

Category

Textiles (Needlework)

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase

Creator (Role)

Jane Simons (Maker)
1727

Place of Origin

Oyster Bay, New York, Long Island, United States, North America

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; ; "IANe SiMONS her SAMPLer / MAde IN The TeNth YeAr Of / her AGe 1737" (embroidered wool thread)
2. Inscription; ; "The GrACIO / [V]s GOd DID GIVe Me TIMe / TO DO ThS WOrK YOV Se / e thAt OTherS MAYD LAr / N The SAMe WheN I ShALL C / eASe TO Be" (embroidered wool thread)

Materials

Linen; Wool

Techniques

Embroidered, Woven (plain)

Construction Description

Hand-embroidered

Dimensions (inches)

20.93 (L) , 8.31 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

53.162 (L) , 21.107 (W)

Measurement Notes

Dimension of visible area within frame.

Object Description

Web - 06/16/2014

Dated 1737, this plain band or marking sampler by Jane Simons [Seaman?] of Long Island, New York, may be one of the oldest American samplers in Winterthur's collection. The long and narrow canvas style is indicative of earlier American samplers. It was worked with brightly-colored crewel yarns - a rare practice for 18th-century samplers. There is experimental drawn work in linen threads within the band of tulips. This sampler has a history of ownership in Oyster Bay, and may be linked to the Seaman family. The inscription reads: "JANe SiMONS her SAMPLer / MAde IN The TeNth YeAr Of / her AGe 1737 / The GrACIO / [V]s GOd DID GIVe Me TIMe / TO DO ThS WOrK YOV Se / e thAt OTherS MAYD LAr / N The SAMe WheN I ShALL C / eASe TO Be"

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Swan, Susan Burrows. 1977 Plain & Fancy: American Women and Their Needlework, 1700-1850.
• Published: p. 4, pl. 3.
[Book] Swan, Susan Burrows. 1995 Plain and Fancy: American Women and their Needlework, 1650-1850.
• Published: pl. 3, copyright page
[Book] Swan, Susan Burrows. 1976 A Winterthur Guide to American Needlework.
• Published: p. 11, fig. 2