"Worked by an Orphan"

This interesting little sampler is inscribed, "Worked by an Orphan R.C.O.A." and was made at one of the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylums, circa 1850. The first American orphanage was established in New Orleans in 1727 and by the middle of the 19th century the majority of these institutions were run by the Catholic Church, and many were in New York City. Young girls at the orphanages were taught to be exceptional needleworkers and their samplers were considered an indication of their ability.

The central composition is a composition of images with significance to Catholicism, including the cross, chalice, heart, and initials INRI ("Iesus Nazerenus Rex Iudeorum" meaning "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews"). The top and side borders are formed of clusters of flowers tightly worked in small-scale Berlin patterns.

Worked in silk on fine linen, the sampler is in excellent condition and has been conservation mounted into a cherry frame.