I love finding very old things with notes about their histories carefully attached to them; we should all have such presence of mind. And the note here, written in 1936 either by grand niece Glaydis S. Little herself or someone who knew her, tells us this finely handwoven textile, embroidered with the name Sarah Sanborn, dates to the 18th century. And a search for Sarah Sanborn immediately turns up a Sarah Sanborn, born in 1732, in Hampton, Rockingham County, NH, not far from where I found it, who married a James Leavitt Jr in 1751, had at least 5 children, and died in 1792, in her hometown.
Blue thread for her name and what looks like the number 3 just to its right, and a fine pattern to the weaving--see details. With the perimeter hemmed with tiny hand-stitches in undyed thread.There is a bit of a sheen as well as a strength to the cloth that makes it seem like at least some of the thread might be silk, but I assume it is finely spun flax (?)
43" long x 20" wide. Some scattered small spots and toning as shown--as one would expect being 250 or so years old! No holes or loose seams or losses. Lovely and special feeling and very sturdy.
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