Elizabeth Paxson
Location: Sharon - Sharon Museum and Gardens, Ontario
Estimated Date Stitched:
1800
Estimated Age of Stitcher:
School and/or Teacher:
Name of Stitcher:
Elizabeth Paxson
Type of Sampler:
alphabet, numbers
Size of Sampler:
Width: 8in
Height: 16in
Description:
Sampler is neither mounted or framed but in a Mylar encasing. This allows the back to also be seen.
Sampler finishing – The sampler is hemmed only on 3 sides. The left length of fabric is not and appears to then be the salvage. The hemmed sides are double folded to there is a finished edge showing on the back. The hem is stitched with thread the same colour as the fabric with a whip stitch. The corners are not mitered.
The back shows that the stitcher trailed threads from one letter to another if the same thread colour was used. There are some thread trailings even within the same letter where the stitcher found themselves needing to move to another part of the letter to complete embroidering it when usually a stitcher would darn under prior stitches to move to another area. The trailing of thread can be seen if the sampler is held up as the weave of the fabric is not tight. The stitching of the row separators is very neat including the beginning and ending of threads.
Borders
Outer border is cross stitch with a middle row having 2 cross stitches beside each other and then a space for 1 stitch in between the pairs. The other 2 rows of cross stitch are 1 stitch over and under the space that was left in the middle row.
Row separators are stitched in various thread colours.
Row 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10 are one line of cross stitch.
Row 3 and 6 are 1 row of eyelet.
Row 4 and 7 are 2 rows of cross stitch, one over the other but with a third row joining the 2 rows. The 3rd row is also cross stitch spaced in between or off set to the row above and below. The extra middle row stitch appears in the middle of a group of 4, meaning stitched in every other spot.
Row 5 has 2 rows of cross stitch parallel over each other.
At the very bottom, below the numbers there is a large “L”, the same size as the large alphabet. It is off to the side of the middle with no other letters by it.
Also at the very bottom there is a partial 2 rows of cross stitch parallel over each other. Just 7 stitches in each row.
Motifs
There are 2 trees, one at the end of the large alphabet and one after the embroiderer’s first name. There is a motif of a nondescript pattern being made up of multiple rows at the end of the 2nd large alphabet row and a scroll motif at the end of the 4th row of the large alphabet.
All motifs are embroidered in cross stitch.
Thread colours – blue, red, green and black
Condition: Excellent
Description of condition:
There are 3 places where there has been some deterioration.
Fabric deterioration – In the bottom left corner has 4 threads pulling away from the salvage and a couple beside it that have lost their colour. About half way down on the left the fabric has a very small hole.
Thread deterioration – In the outer border and in several places. In the second row separator line on the far left.
Fabric Type:
Linen
Approximate thread count:
28
Embroidery thread type:
cotton
Number of letters: Number of Alphabets: 2
Case: Upper Case
Description of alphabets:
The sampler has 2 alphabets stitched in upper case, the first one small in size and the second large. The small alphabet is on 3 rows and had space on its third row for an additional letter and the alphabet was started again with an “A” only. The additional letter though was squished in. Between the F and G there is more space than between other letters.
The large alphabet is over 5 rows. Spacing between letters is somewhat uneven in the first 2 rows and more consistent in the last 3 with the exception of space between the “P” and “Q”.
All letter are stitched in cross stitch.
Number of sets of numerals: Number of sets of numerals: 1
Description of numerals:
Includes 1-9 and then a very small “0” about half the size of the previous numbers. Stitched in cross stitch.
Borders: simple cross
Motifs: plants
Type of stitches: cross, eyelet
Name or initials on sampler: Elizabeth Paxson
Verse or Inscription:
Owner / Donor Story:
Other Information:
The accession information notes that Elizabeth Paxson was later changed to Paxson Doan.
Photographs
No. of photographs: Number of photographs: 5
Description of photographs:
1 is full front
2 is top small alphabet
3 is large alphabet
4 is embroiderer’s name, date, numbers
5 is the back
Reference numbers: (Museum, archive or other references associated with sampler)
Accession 760.73.1
If you have more info about this sampler, please contact us at samplers@eac-acb.ca