Mourning Sampler
c. 1815
Medium
Linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk floss in tent, cross, long and a mixture of stem, whip and couching stitches
Dimensions
50.2 × 53.7 cm (19 3/4 × 21 1/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
193391
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Mourning samplers—embroidered remembrances of deceased family members—were often part of the curriculum for American girls at private academies in the early 19th century. The silk thread used in such works was expensive and embroidery of this style required advanced needlework skills. These samplers showcased a schoolgirl’s accomplishments and attested to her family’s ability to provide her with an education. The two figures in this sampler mourn the deaths of Hannah (Phipps) Smith (1763–1813) ...