Sampler
Object name
Maker
Date made
1920s
Place made
Description
A Royal School of Needlework churchwork sampler made of silk shading and goldwork, made in the 1920s by Diana White.
Content description
A Royal School of Needlework churchwork sampler made in the 1920s by Diana White, consisting of 13 religious motifs from different faiths worked in silk shading and goldwork. The line of pomegranate, crown, and fleur-de-lis above a cross was a common pattern for these samplers, with the remaining motifs left to the design of the embroiderer.
The central purple cross is worked in a combination of long and short with cutwork, Japanese couching and a purl border. Either side of the cross are the Star of David and the Chi Ro, worked in long and short stitch and cutwork with a purl edging. Above the cross, two shields use a combination of passing, Japanese couching, and twist edging with colour details picked out in long and short stitch.
At the top of the sampler, a pomegranate, symbolising resurrection and everlasting life, is worked in red long and short stitch with a circular raised pattern, Japanese couching, and a twist edging. A crown is worked in yellow long and short stitch with jewels made of pearl beads and is decorated with chipping, cutwork, and a purl edging. The fleur-de-lis, representing the Holy Trinity, is worked in basket weave with couched cord borders and an edging in Japanese thread.
A second cross on the left has a blue background of laid work and Bayeux stitch with a twist edging and plate over padding. To the right of the cross, a lozenge shaped symbol with blue couched background and Japanese couching has symbols in blue. Three floral designs across the bottom of the sampler include areas of silk shading, chain and burden stitch and edging in purl or twist with gold work elements of a bright check lattice, basket weave, plate and Japanese couching using coloured threads for the couching.
The sampler is typical of churchwork samplers made by RSN students throughout most the twentieth century. These samplers were designed to practice embroidery techniques employed in the production of ecclesiastical and heraldic textiles, as churches and institutions were often customers of the RSN's Embroidery Studio. Diana White (15 March 1906-16 November 1982), the godmother of the donor, attended Tiffin Girls' School and the RSN (perhaps joining in 1922, aged 16) before training as a nurse and then as a chiropodist.
The central purple cross is worked in a combination of long and short with cutwork, Japanese couching and a purl border. Either side of the cross are the Star of David and the Chi Ro, worked in long and short stitch and cutwork with a purl edging. Above the cross, two shields use a combination of passing, Japanese couching, and twist edging with colour details picked out in long and short stitch.
At the top of the sampler, a pomegranate, symbolising resurrection and everlasting life, is worked in red long and short stitch with a circular raised pattern, Japanese couching, and a twist edging. A crown is worked in yellow long and short stitch with jewels made of pearl beads and is decorated with chipping, cutwork, and a purl edging. The fleur-de-lis, representing the Holy Trinity, is worked in basket weave with couched cord borders and an edging in Japanese thread.
A second cross on the left has a blue background of laid work and Bayeux stitch with a twist edging and plate over padding. To the right of the cross, a lozenge shaped symbol with blue couched background and Japanese couching has symbols in blue. Three floral designs across the bottom of the sampler include areas of silk shading, chain and burden stitch and edging in purl or twist with gold work elements of a bright check lattice, basket weave, plate and Japanese couching using coloured threads for the couching.
The sampler is typical of churchwork samplers made by RSN students throughout most the twentieth century. These samplers were designed to practice embroidery techniques employed in the production of ecclesiastical and heraldic textiles, as churches and institutions were often customers of the RSN's Embroidery Studio. Diana White (15 March 1906-16 November 1982), the godmother of the donor, attended Tiffin Girls' School and the RSN (perhaps joining in 1922, aged 16) before training as a nurse and then as a chiropodist.
Dimensions
width: 55.5cm
height: 61.5cm
height: 61.5cm
Materials
Stitches
Basketweave (goldwork) 
Chain stitch
Chipping
Couching
Couching in a circle (goldwork)
Cutwork
Cutwork purls over soft string
Gold twist application
Laid work
Pearl purl application
Plate application
Long and short stitch
Chain stitch
Chipping
Couching
Couching in a circle (goldwork)
Cutwork
Cutwork purls over soft string
Gold twist application
Laid work
Pearl purl application
Plate application
Long and short stitch
Techniques
Motifs
Credit line
Gift of Felicity Wiltshire, 2016.
Catalogue number
RSN.2123
© Royal School of Needlework