Collection Highlights
Doll: girl w/fur trimmed coat and velvet hat on stand
ca. 1893
1961.31
Ceramic, composition, textile, leather, fur, hair, rhinestones, feathers, paint
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Sampler
Object name
Sampler
Date
1812
Medium
Linen, silk
Dimensions
Overall: 18 x 20 3/4 in. ( 45.7 x 52.7 cm )
Description
Horizontal rectangular unfinished linen sampler with various colors silk floss; horizontal rows of alphabets, numbers, family record and mottoes separated by rows of design across upper two-thirds, naturalistic images and house at bottom, sides and top bordered by floral motif, straight border across bottom; cross stitched.
Credit Line
Gift of Nanette Bryan
Object Number
1961.18
Marks
embroidery: above center, brown floss: "SoPhia Bryan Born May 16th 1805. Albany APril 1812."
Gallery Label
Sophia Bryan was almost seven when she worked this sampler incorporating the names and dates of her parents and their four children. Her father, John Bryan, was a prominent Albany merchant. Sophia embellished her sampler with a stylish Federal house, complete with hip roof and double chimneys. Signifying security, comfort, and happiness, the house may have been symbolic or an actual representation of her home or school. Her verse is from Alexander Pope's "Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady," first published in 1736.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
