Sampler
Object name
Date made
Early 20th century
Place made
Description
Early 20th-century churchwork sampler using mixed techniques, perhaps made at the Royal School of Art Needlework or another embroidery organisation.
Content description
An early 20th-century churchwork sampler worked in goldwork and silk shading on unbleached linen. In the top left corner is a cross worked in long and short stitches in various shades of red silk, outlined in couched passing thread. Next to the cross and below it are green leaves worked in long and short stitch, followed by two squares with a basketweave pattern and a vermicelli pattern on orange laid work in passing threads and bordered by couched string.
The next row features a large cross motif in blue and pink silk threads with a central circle of couched passing thread. Within the cross arms, pink leaf-like shapes are worked over a blue laid work background and outlined in couched passing gold thread. A Tudor rose motif follows, worked in long and short stitch with couched gold outlines, and two Maltese crosses in gold Japanese threads and blue silk and outlined in a couched string. To the farthest right, a crown is worked in pink long and short stitches and couched gold thread.
At the bottom, two more squares are worked in a vermicelli pattern and a bricking pattern in gold respectively. The bottom right corner features a rural scene with a lane and flowers. The background is painted with flowers worked in seeding and stem stitch. Though the mixture of silk shading and goldwork is typical of this period's churchwork samplers, especially with the inclusion of crosses and a crown, the rural scene is atypical.
The next row features a large cross motif in blue and pink silk threads with a central circle of couched passing thread. Within the cross arms, pink leaf-like shapes are worked over a blue laid work background and outlined in couched passing gold thread. A Tudor rose motif follows, worked in long and short stitch with couched gold outlines, and two Maltese crosses in gold Japanese threads and blue silk and outlined in a couched string. To the farthest right, a crown is worked in pink long and short stitches and couched gold thread.
At the bottom, two more squares are worked in a vermicelli pattern and a bricking pattern in gold respectively. The bottom right corner features a rural scene with a lane and flowers. The background is painted with flowers worked in seeding and stem stitch. Though the mixture of silk shading and goldwork is typical of this period's churchwork samplers, especially with the inclusion of crosses and a crown, the rural scene is atypical.
Materials
Stitches
Techniques
Motifs
Credit line
Gift of Susan Elliott, 2023.
Catalogue number
RSN.2654
© Royal School of Needlework