Sampler
1751 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The earliest samplers were reference works for embroiderers. They showed 'samples' of patterns and stitches and recorded how to achieve particular effects. In Europe in the 17th century samplers provided instruction and practice for girls learning needlework. This Dutch sampler was made in Friesland in 1751. Here the embroiderer has experimented with the traditional border patterns, elaborate lettering and strong colours typical of the area.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Embroidered linen with coloured silks |
| Brief description | Sampler of embroidered linen with coloured silks, possibly made in Groningen or Friesland, Netherlands, 1751. |
| Physical description | Sampler of embroidered linen with coloured silks in cross-stitch, satin-stitch, Algerian eye-stitch, back-stitch, stem-stitch and chain-stitch. The alphabet is embroidered across the top of the sampler with the final four letters on the row below. The centre of the upper half of the sampler has the letters 'R.SS.I' (top row) and 'M.T.' (bottom row) separated by large hearts and the date is embroidered 'ANNO 1751'. The rest of the sampler is filled with border motifs, mostly of stylised birds, arranged in five columns, and each border being separated by a line of chain stitch. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'ANNO 1751 RS SI / MT' (Inscribed in top half of sampler) |
| Production | Attribution by Rosalie Sloof, researcher, Fries Museum, Leeuwarden - suggested it was possibly from Groningen or Friesland in the Netherlands |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The earliest samplers were reference works for embroiderers. They showed 'samples' of patterns and stitches and recorded how to achieve particular effects. In Europe in the 17th century samplers provided instruction and practice for girls learning needlework. This Dutch sampler was made in Friesland in 1751. Here the embroiderer has experimented with the traditional border patterns, elaborate lettering and strong colours typical of the area. |
| Bibliographic reference | Browne, Clare and Jennifer Wearden, eds. Samplers from the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : V&A Publications, 1999. 144 p., ill. ISBN 1851773096. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.285-1960 |
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| Record created | October 24, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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