Sampler with wool cross stitch in green, red, blue, orange, purple, brown and yellow with cotton inscription in black on linen ground. Made by Elizabeth Munro, date unknown.

Wool cross stitch in green, red, blue, orange, purple, brown and yellow with cotton inscription in black on linen ground. There is a heavy border of green and purple tree motifs, linked with green stitching. There are letters of the alphabet in light blue and green stitching at the top of the document, framed in stitches of various colours. In the top central section there are flower motifs, and an inscription which reads 'If you desire to worship God aright, First in the morning pray and last at night, Crave for his blessing on your labours all, And in distress for his assistance call.' Underneath the inscription are two depictions of houses and various flowers, followed by three larger floral motifs in purple and orange stitching. The botttom section has a second unfinished inscription which reads 'Elizabeth Munro Wrought this in the'. There are further floral motifs in this section, which are also not complete. There is no date.

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 Elizabeth Munro, date unknown.

B.550-2016