Sampler
1785 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The earliest surviving samplers date back to the sixteenth century, where they were used as a personal reference for experienced or professional embroiderers. By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries however, when this example was made, samplers were increasingly being used as an educational tool for girls from all social backgrounds. Samplers also had an increasingly pictoral focus by this time, often framed with embroidered border patterns; the use of moralising texts and motifs also served as an expression of dutiful piety. This example was made by (G?)illan Collins in 1785, and includes two examples of the alphabet in various colours, as well as a religious text and motifs including flowers, hearts and diamonds.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk stitching on a linen panel. |
| Brief description | Sampler with silk cross stitch on linen ground. Made by ((?)illian Collins in 1785. |
| Physical description | Silk cross stitch in brown, green, pink, cream and black on linen ground. The top section has letters of the alphabet in capital and then lower case, stitched and underlined in various colours. In the top centre of the sampler is the makers name ((G) illian Collins) and date (October 1785). in the lower half is a religious text, with each word stitched in a different colour. At the bottom of the sampler are heart, diamond and floral motifs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Credit line | Given in memory of Valerie Orr |
| Object history | Donated by Peter Orr in 2016, who was given the samplers by his mother Valerie Orr (deceased). The donor advised that his mother acquired the samplers over several years as she was the Chair of the Embroiderers' Guild in Yorkshire. He believes the period of acquisition would have been 1970-2005, and that a number were donated by a good friend in the 1970's, whilst others were purchased or a gift from others. |
| Historical context | In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries samplers were increasingly being used as an educational tool for girls from all social backgrounds. This sampler forms part of a total of fourteen examples donated to the Museum by Peter Orr, ranging in date from 1785-1886. |
| Summary | The earliest surviving samplers date back to the sixteenth century, where they were used as a personal reference for experienced or professional embroiderers. By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries however, when this example was made, samplers were increasingly being used as an educational tool for girls from all social backgrounds. Samplers also had an increasingly pictoral focus by this time, often framed with embroidered border patterns; the use of moralising texts and motifs also served as an expression of dutiful piety. This example was made by (G?)illan Collins in 1785, and includes two examples of the alphabet in various colours, as well as a religious text and motifs including flowers, hearts and diamonds. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.539-2016 |
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| Record created | May 25, 2016 |
| Record URL |
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