Embroidered Sampler 1789 - 1792

This embroidered sampler was created by Martha (Patty) Coggeshall, who was a young woman living in America in the late 18th century. These samplers were a common educational tool, especially for young women of the time. The practice of needlework was deeply entwined with cultural expectations and gender roles, and were a way for women to demonstrate their refinement and domestic skills. In this piece, we see the alphabet, religious verse, and pictorial scenes, all of which reflect aspects of Patty’s identity and her place in society. But there is also an individuality in the samplers, offering us an insight into the world as seen through the eyes of a young woman coming of age. It's a physical record of her life, her education, and perhaps her aspirations. Consider the emotional weight carried within this object. The stitches made by a young woman who died at just seventeen years old. What stories and secrets are held within this piece?