Sampler
Object name
Maker
Date made
Circa 1950s
Place made
Description
Unfinished blackwork sampler with gold details, worked at the Royal School of Needlework in approximately the 1950s. The sampler features six Tudor-inspired floral motifs.
Content description
Unfinished blackwork sampler depicting six Tudor-inspired floral motifs. The anonymous embroiderer has worked a Tudor rose, carnations, and clematis as well as two moths and vines, leaves, and tendrils. The sampler is stitched on linen in stranded cotton and a fine gold passing thread. The piece was worked by a student at the Royal School of Needlework in approximately in the 1950s.
The Tudor rose is completed with two blackwork stitches, a variation on the hexagonal lozenge stitch and a floral stitch. Other stitches include chain stitch, trellis stitch, whipped chain stitch, stem stitch, and some straight stitches. One of the carnations has Burden stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, seeding stitch, a variation on Pekinese stitch, French knots, straight stitch, and various blackwork stitches including several hexagonal stitches, a floral stitch, and a darning stitch. The clematis on the top right has a trellis stitch, cross stitch, stem stitch, filled open chain stitch, straight stitches, back stitch, bullion knots, and octagon star stitch. The top middle flower, which is unfinished, has trellis stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, seeding stitch, and a floral blackwork stitch.
The Tudor rose is completed with two blackwork stitches, a variation on the hexagonal lozenge stitch and a floral stitch. Other stitches include chain stitch, trellis stitch, whipped chain stitch, stem stitch, and some straight stitches. One of the carnations has Burden stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, seeding stitch, a variation on Pekinese stitch, French knots, straight stitch, and various blackwork stitches including several hexagonal stitches, a floral stitch, and a darning stitch. The clematis on the top right has a trellis stitch, cross stitch, stem stitch, filled open chain stitch, straight stitches, back stitch, bullion knots, and octagon star stitch. The top middle flower, which is unfinished, has trellis stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, seeding stitch, and a floral blackwork stitch.
Dimensions
width: 48.5cm
height: 36.5cm
height: 36.5cm
Materials
Stitches
Back stitch 
Hexagonal lozenge (pattern)
Herringbone stitch
Chain stitch
Open chain stitch
Trellis
Whipped chain stitch
Stem stitch
Straight stitch
Burden stitch
Seeding stitch
Pekinese stitch
French knot
Darning stitch
Cross stitch
Bullion knot
Octagon star (pattern)

Hexagonal lozenge (pattern)

Herringbone stitch

Chain stitch

Open chain stitch

Trellis

Whipped chain stitch

Stem stitch

Straight stitch

Burden stitch

Seeding stitch

Pekinese stitch

French knot

Darning stitch

Cross stitch

Bullion knot

Octagon star (pattern)

Techniques
Motifs
Catalogue number
RSN.1313
© Royal School of Needlework