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Sampler

A work made of linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk in cross, rococo, roumanian, satin, stem, and tent stitches.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk in cross, rococo, roumanian, satin, stem, and tent stitches.

Date:

1791

Artist:

Lucy Potter (American, active c. 1791)
Mary (Polly) Balch’s Academy
United States, Rhode Island, Providence

About this artwork

This skillfully executed sampler belongs to one the most recognizable groups of samplers associated with a specific school, that of Mary Balch. Balch (1762–1831), also known as Polly, began teaching in 1782 to help support her family. During her 45 years of teaching, several distinctive styles of samplers and silk embroideries evolved at her school. The maker of this sampler was possibly Lucy Potter Fuller (1778–1864), the daughter of Joseph Potter (1739–1831) and Abigail Dunwell Potter (1750–1828), who married Joseph Field Fuller (1763–1845) in 1794.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Textiles

Artist

Lucy Potter (Maker)

Title

Sampler

Place

Rhode Island (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1791

Medium

Linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk in cross, Rococo, Roumanian, satin, stem, and tent stitches

Dimensions

43.5 × 34.3 cm (17 1/8 × 13 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Naomi Donnelley through the Needlework and Textile Guild

Reference Number

1942.34

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/89904/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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