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Sampler
Mary Fleet (Massachusetts (Boston), 1729–1796)
American
1743
Object Place: Boston, New England, United States
Medium/Technique
Linen plain weave embroidered with silk in reversible cross, stem, and Romanian stitches
Dimensions
Height x width: 17 11/16 x 17 9/16 in. (44.9 x 44.6 cm)
Credit Line
Anonymous gift
Accession Number41.493
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionDesign includes horizontal rows of alphabet letters and numerals, geometric motifs and floral and animal forms; at bottom the verse: "When Land is Gone and Money Spent, Then Learning is Most Excellent, Behold Alass our Days We Spend, How Vein they be how Good they end. Mary Fleet, 1743." Broad border of naturalistically drawn carnations and other flowers. Sampler worked with silks in pinks, neutral orange, yellow, several shades of neutral yellow, bluish greens, yellowish greens, blues, neutral blue, brown, black, ivory and white, in cross, Oriental, stem and satin stitches. Most of the center is made in cross stitch with some satin stitch; the border includes flat, stem, and satin stitch.
ProvenanceAnonymous gift to MFA, 1941