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Sampler

1696 (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 is a type known as a band sampler. With the composition of band samplers comes the first clear indication in England of the form being used as a method of instruction and practice for girls learning needlework.This example is one of a type that combine repeating patterns worked in coloured silks with areas of cutwork (holes that are cut and then bound by stitches) and needle lace stitches.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Linen, embroidered with silk and linen in cross, two-sided Italian cross, satin, rococo and detached buttonhole stitch, with cutwork and eyelets
Brief description
Linen sampler by Elizabeth Mackett, embroidered with silk and linen; English; dated 1696.
Physical description
Embroidered sampler
Dimensions
  • Height: 109.3cm
  • Width: 24cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Elizabeth Mackett 1696' (Decoration; embroidering; silk; 1696)
Object history
A search on the International Genealogical Index produces only one likely candidate for Elizabeth Mackett; the daughter of Thomas Mackett, christened on 4 April 1681 at Godshill on the Isle of Wight.
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 is a type known as a band sampler. With the composition of band samplers comes the first clear indication in England of the form being used as a method of instruction and practice for girls learning needlework.This example is one of a type that combine repeating patterns worked in coloured silks with areas of cutwork (holes that are cut and then bound by stitches) and needle lace stitches.
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
433-1884

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Record createdNovember 15, 2002
Record URL
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