Sampler thumbnail 1
Sampler thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sampler

1600-1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In their earliest form, samplers were put together as personal reference works for embroiderers. They were trials of patterns and stitches that had been copied from others, and records of particular effects achieved that could be recreated again. This example, with scattered individual motifs, is a spot sampler. It includes a typical range of motifs, with areas of repeating pattern, some suitable for the decoration of linen or costume accessories, such as purses.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Linen, embroidered with silk and metal thread in long-armed cross, tent, Hungarian, Romanian, rococo and plaited braid stitch, with pulled thread work, eyelets and knots
Brief description
Linen embroidered with silk and metal thread; English; first half of the 17th century.
Physical description
Embroidered sampler
Dimensions
  • Height: 49.5cm
  • Width: 20.3cm
Subject depicted
Summary
In their earliest form, samplers were put together as personal reference works for embroiderers. They were trials of patterns and stitches that had been copied from others, and records of particular effects achieved that could be recreated again. This example, with scattered individual motifs, is a spot sampler. It includes a typical range of motifs, with areas of repeating pattern, some suitable for the decoration of linen or costume accessories, such as purses.
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.36-1927

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Record createdNovember 13, 2002
Record URL
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