Description:

This is a school-assigned multiplication table as taught at the Duchess of Athole's School. In the traditional 12 x 12 format, our mystery stitcher "JMcK" added a stylized undulating "border" on all four sides and some lovely corner motifs. The sampler has been hemmed irregularly and there are indications that the ground has also been trimmed, possibly to remove the nail holes and damage from the original mounting. A trace of a dark rust stain in the bottom right corner is still visible. The trailing threads are obvious throughout and we cannot help but wonder if this was acceptable to the teacher, or not.

Size (W x H): 13 7/8 x 11 5/8 inches

Stitches: Cross

Media: Silk on linen

Genealogy:

Since we are not able to identify the samplermaker JMcK, we will instead provide background on the Duchess of Atholl.

Anne Home-Drummond Murray was born in Edinburgh in 1814. In 1839, she married George Murray, the 2nd Baron Glenlyon, thereby becoming Lady Glenlyon. In 1846 George succeeded his uncle as sixth Duke of Atholl, and Anne became the Duchess of Atholl. Their only child, John, went on to become the seventh Duke. The couple preferred the historical spelling of Athole, so both are seen in references to them.

Anne served as friend and (briefly) Mistress of the Robes and then as a Lady of the Bedchamber (for over 40 years) to Queen Victoria. The Duchess of Athole' Girl's Industrial School was founded in 1851 in Dunkeld, commonly referred to as The Duchess' Female School. The Duke died in 1864, Anne lived until 1897 but never remarried. The building that formerly housed the school still stands in Dunkeld and is part of the Dunkeld Heritage Walk.

Verse:

J.Mc.K. Duchess of Athole's
School.