Sampler made by E Pratt in 1886. Fine small cross stitches in red cotton on white linen ground.

Fine small cross stitches in red cotton on white linen ground. At the top of the object are letters of the alphabet in various fonts, as well as numbers near the bottom of the sequence. The middle area is split into six sections via a decorative border. The top central section contains the image of a lamb and the religious text "He shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom". The bottom central section has crown and floral basket motifs as well as the text "E Pratt South Wing New Orphan House Ashley Down Bristol 1886". The top left and right sections contain decoration of various shapes; the bottom left and right sections contain the text "The Lord is my Shepherd" and "The Lord is my Redeemer" respectively. At the bottom of the object are images including horses, cows, floral arrangements and a central coat of arms like design.

Given in memory of Valerie Orr

Donated by Peter Orr in 2016, who was given the samplers by his mother Valerie Orr (deceased). The donor advised that his mother acquired the samplers over several years as she was the Chair of the Embroiderers' Guild in Yorkshire. He believes the period of acquisition would have been 1970-2005, and that a number were donated by a good friend in the 1970's, whilst others were purchased or a gift from others.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries samplers were increasingly being used as an educational tool for girls from all social backgrounds. This sampler forms part of a total of fourteen examples donated to the Museum by Peter Orr, ranging in date from 1785-1886.

The earliest surviving samplers date back to the sixteenth century, where they were used as a personal reference for experienced or professional embroiderers. By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries however, when this example was made, samplers were increasingly being used as an educational tool for girls from all social backgrounds. Samplers also had an increasingly pictoral focus by this time, often framed with embroidered border patterns; the use of moralising texts and motifs also served as an expression of dutiful piety. This example was made by E. Pratt in 1886 at the New Orphan House in Ashley Down, Bristol.

B.547-2016