Perthene Chase
Sampler

Public Domain

ExpandFavorite

Images(2)

Maker Perthene ChaseAmerican, 1749–1795

CultureAmerican

Titles

Sampler

Date1761

Made inNewport, Rhode Island, United States

MediumSilk on linen

Dimensions15 1/2 × 11 in. (39.4 × 27.9 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Houston Junior Woman's Club Charitable Fund

Object numberB.2014.13

Not on view

Explore Further

Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

TEXTILES

DescriptionIn this sampler, Perthene Chase stitched two verses: the first compares the loss of her parents with the loss Christ, and the second reflects the pride of her needlework. She also included her age “11 years, 8 months, 10 days” when she completed the sampler on “September 30, 1761 NS.” Overall, it shows characteristics of Newport, Rhode Island, band samplers: multiple rows of arcaded flowers separated by rows of religious or moral verses and a border. It follows the 18th-century trend toward a progressively squarer format. The shape change reflects more than aesthetics. The availability of wider looms from about 1720 permitted weaving of increasingly larger linen sampler ground. Additionally, this sampler also signifies an end of an era for the band sampler, as a new design was adopted called the “frolicking people” as typified in Sarah Johnson’s sampler of 1769 (B.2013.27).
Provenance[Grace and Elliott Snyder Antiques, South Egremont, Massachusetts]; purchased by [Amy Finkel, M. Finkel & Daughter, Philadelphia]; purchased by [Joyce and William Subjack, Neverbird Antiques, Surry, Virginia, 1998]; purchased by MFAH, 2014.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Stitched: A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V / X Y Z & 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 / a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s t u w x y / The Loss of A Father Is Much The / Loss of A Mother Is More The Loss / Or Christ is such A Loss No Man [illegible] / This N(…) W(…) Or M(…) Can Till When [illegible] / Child I Learned Well & By My Parents I Was / Taught Not To Spend My Time For Naught / Perthene Chase Age 11 Year 8 Month 10 D(…) / September The 30 : 1761 NS R(…)

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.