ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY MARGARET CUTTER, ACCOMPLISHED WHILE A STUDENT AT THE MORAVIAN FEMALE SEMINARY FOR YOUNG LADIES IN BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, IN 1835
Bethlehem, PA: 1835. An original ribbon and crepe work piece depicting a basket of flowers on a background of silk, approx. 34 x 38 cm., glazed and framed. Small paper label on the wooden backing of the frame with a pencil note: "M.G. Cutter Bethliam [sic] Co. School, 1835." Printed diamond-shaped label (rubbed) of the framer Thos. A. Wilm[?]t's Sons, Mirrors and Picture Frames, New York, laid down on the wooden backing. Margaret Cutter's delicately rendered flowers are done in red, pale pink, and cream, and arranged in a woven wicker (?) basket set on a woven tapestry base. A bit of fading to some of the green leaves but overall a bright, charming piece.
The Bethlehem Female Seminary, originally founded in 1741, was reorganized as the Moravian Female Seminary in 1785. In keeping with the Moravian philosophy of "when you educate a woman, you educate an entire family," the school offered a strong academic cirriculum of reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, and history, as well as classes in the arts and music. According to a book by William Reichel and William Bigler, "A History of the Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies, At Bethlehem, PA, with a Catalogue of its Pupils, 1785-1870," [Bethlehem, PA: 1901, 4th edition], in 1787, tambour and fine needle work were introduced, taught by a Sister from the "Sister's House" who was "expert with the needle in the various modes of curious embroidery." By May, 1807, "instruction in 'artificial flowers,' a new branch of fancy needlework," was given for an additional charge. In 1826 the students under the direction of Sister Blum, and the encouragement of Brother Charles F. Seidel, created "an elaborate piece of embroidery in ribbon and silk... for presentation to the wife of President [John Quincy] Adams" which she gratefully acknowleged as an "elegant specimen of workmanship so beautifully executed...." The school became known for this kind of work and In 1835, "music and ornamental needle-work were engaged in by a larger number of the pupils than at any previous time." Item #68996
Margaret Cutter, daughter of Dr. Smith Cutter (1781-1871) of New York City, attended the Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies along with her sisters Louisa and Charlotte. She is listed as a student in the school's catalogue of pupils for 1831. Her father was a physician, owner of a drug store at 193 Greenwich St., and Health Commissioner for New York. He was later accused of defalcation of some $39,000, moneys he "misapplied" while Health Commissioner [see: the articles in the New York Tribune, Oct. 31, 1842 and March 26, 1845]. Margaret later married Daniel T. Youngs (1809-1878), a grocer and commission merchant, and their large family resided in Oyster Bay, NY.
Price: $4,500.00