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Sampler

Sampler

  • Place of origin:

    Friesland, Netherlands (possibly, made)

  • Date:

    1751 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Linen, embroidered with silk in straight satin stitch, with eyelets

  • Museum number:

    T.285-1960

  • Gallery location:

    In store

  • Download image

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.

Physical description

Linen embroidered 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 stylized birds, arranged in five columns, each border being separated by a line of chain stitch.

Place of Origin

Friesland, Netherlands (possibly, made)

Date

1751 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Linen, embroidered with silk in straight satin stitch, with eyelets

Marks and inscriptions

'ANNO 1751 RS SI / MT'

Dimensions

Length: 31.7 cm, Width: 50.8 cm

Descriptive line

Linen sampler, embroidered with silk; Groningen or Friesland, Netherlands; dated 1751.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Browne, Clare and Jennifer Wearden, eds. Samplers from the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : V&A Publications, 1999. 144 p., ill. ISBN 1851773096.

Production Note

Attribution by Rosalie Sloof, researcher, Fries Museum, Leeuwarden - suggested it was possibly from Groningen or Friesland in the Netherlands

Materials

Silk; Linen

Techniques

Embroidering

Subjects depicted

Hearts; Stylized birds

Categories

Household objects; Embroidery

Production Type

Unique

Collection code

T&D

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Qr_O68756
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