Sampler, linen ground, embroidered in coloured silks, elephant and tigers, Mary Ann Robinson, British, 1836.

Sampler embroidered in coloured silks in cross stitch on an open weave linen canvas. The colours, which include several shades of pink, green, blue, orange, grey, black, tan and white, have faded. A large elephant standing on a mound has been embroidered below an inscription which includes a verse and the maker's name and age. The elephant is set between an oak tree on the left and a palm tree on the right. A figure standing in the branches of the oak tree reaches out to a flock of four black birds carrying pink berries or fruits in their beaks. An exotic bird with long tail feathers perches on the top of the palm tree and a pair of tigers stand in its shade, beneath the elephant's trunk. Other small motifs including a flowering tree, heart, butterfly, strawberry and flowers have been embroidered along the upper edge of the sampler and between the elephant's legs. The sampler has been framed in a maple wood frame. This is not the orginal frame as nail marks on the sampler and areas of discolouration suggest that it was once tacked to a stretcher.

Given by Sheila Rideout

This sampler was sold as part of Brook Weld's collection of English samplers at Christie's South Kensington on 6 October 1977 (lot 96). It was later re-acquired by Weld who sold it to the donor.

Mary Ann Robinson embroidered this sampler. She finished it when she was fifteen years old. Like most British samplers of this date it is worked in cross stitch, on an open weave linen ground. The small motifs, which include a heart, butterfly and flowering tree, are very common but Mary's Ann's decision to embroider an elephant and pair of tigers on her sampler is unusual. Their form suggests that they were copied from a print or an illustration in a book. Mary Ann may have had some connection with India or have been learning about British rule in India at school.

T.112-2011