Images(2)

Embroidered Terrestrial Globe

Maker Hannah E. Deacon

Periodca. 1815 - 1817

MediumInk and embroidered silk on linen, stuffed with wool

Dimensions4.88 in. (12.4 cm)

ClassificationsNeedlework

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Stuart A. Young, Jr., 1975

Object number1975.21.1

DescriptionA spherical globe style sampler made of fine off-white silk over a closely woven linen base, stuffed with sawdust. The continents are outlined in black ink, with painted dark gray watercolor shading along all continent lines and running stitches of pale pink silk embroidery thread. Latitude and longitude lines are delineated with pale pink silk thread, couched at all intersections. The elliptic line is marked with multiple pale yellow silk threads held in place with pale pink silk couching threads wherever it intersects with longitude and latitude lines. All continents and many countries are named, including "America" with the smaller notation "United States" below, "Russian Empire," and "Africa." Australia is noted as "New Holland." The maker appears to have erred in naming one of the continents, with the word "Europe" faintly visible under the title "Asia." All major oceans as well as some smaller areas are identified, such as "Bay of Bengal," "China Sea," and "Baffins Bay." The globe's finely sewn seam lines are hidden under the silk longitude threads. At the top and bottom of the globe, pale blue silk threads are used to join the points of the globe's construction. An original early 19th century brass pin with a wire wrapped head is inserted into the bottom of the globe.
Curatorial RemarksEmbroidered maps were particularly popular as schoolgirl projects in England from about 1770 to the middle of the nineteenth century. In America, a unique three-dimensional interpretation of this subject was produced during the first half of the nineteenth century at the Westtown School in Chester County, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles from Philadelphia. The Association's collection includes a second terrestrial globe made by Westtown student Sarah Hulme or her sister Rebecca Ann, who attended the school between 1821 and 1825. For a more extended discussion of Westtown School and the production of terrestial and celestial globes by its female students, see accession number 1917.NotesThe maker of this terrestrial globe has been identified as Hannah E. Deacon (14 June 1799 - 11 July 1869), one of twelve children of Burlington, New Jersey, residents John Deacon (1761 - 1846) and Hannah Eyre (1768 - 1843). Hannah entered Westtown School in October of 1815 when she was fifteen years old and left a year and a half later in April of 1817. A letter written in July 1815 recommending Hannah to the school survives in Westtown's archives. It reads, "John Deacon, a friend who has had several children at the Boarding School requests thee to enter his daughter Hannah - she has been a school companion with Ann Wills, Ann Woolman and Elizabeth Woolman of Rancocas and would like to go in company with them, if she can be admitted." During her time at Westtown, Hannah also completed a darning sampler, an exercise that was designed to teach her a skill she would later need in maintaining and repairing her family's clothing and household linens. Hannah and her four sisters, Ann, Rebecca, Keziah, and Mary, remained unmarried and lived together as adults. Hannah died of heart disease at the age of seventy and was buried with her family members in the Friends Burying Ground in Burlington, New Jersey. See accession number 1975.21.2 for a small embroidered pocketbook that accompanied this gift.

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