Sampler
Object name
Date made
Circa 1650-1680
Place made
Description
Circa 1650-1680 whitework and polychrome sampler featuring bands of needlelace.
Content description
Circa 1650-1680 band sampler featuring polychrome embroidery, whitework embroidery, and needlelace. The sampler, which seems to have been worked in both directions, is worked on bleached linen with silk threads. One end of the sampler has a narrow band of birds flanking flowers and hearts and a band of grapes worked in Montenegrin stitch and single corded Brussels stitch. This is followed by two alphabets, one in Montenegrin stitch and the other worked in blue threads in Algerian eye stitches. If the sampler is oriented with the polychrome bands at the top, as samplers that combine techniques like this usually are, then the alphabets are upside down.
Below the alphabets are three whitework embroidery bands with geometric and floral patterns made of counted satin stitches, back stitches, bullion knots, and square eyelets (pulled thread). The bottom half of the sampler features six bands of pulled thread work, drawn thread work, and cutwork. There are squares of reticella throughout. Stitches include but are not limited to bullion picots, buttonhole bars, various Brussels stitches, woven bars, and wrapped bars.
It is likely that the sampler maker began with the polychrome embroidery bands before progressing on to more advanced whitework embroidery and then needlelace. The sampler has been mounted onto a blue backing.
Below the alphabets are three whitework embroidery bands with geometric and floral patterns made of counted satin stitches, back stitches, bullion knots, and square eyelets (pulled thread). The bottom half of the sampler features six bands of pulled thread work, drawn thread work, and cutwork. There are squares of reticella throughout. Stitches include but are not limited to bullion picots, buttonhole bars, various Brussels stitches, woven bars, and wrapped bars.
It is likely that the sampler maker began with the polychrome embroidery bands before progressing on to more advanced whitework embroidery and then needlelace. The sampler has been mounted onto a blue backing.
Dimensions
width: 30cm
height: 60cm
height: 60cm
Materials
Stitches
Montenegrin stitch 
Algerian eye stitch
Single Brussels stitch
Single corded Brussels stitch
Bullion picot
Woven bars
Buttonhole bars
Wrapped bars (drawn thread)
Algerian eye stitch
Single Brussels stitch
Single corded Brussels stitch
Bullion picot
Woven bars
Buttonhole bars
Wrapped bars (drawn thread)
Techniques
Motifs
Catalogue number
RSN.2789
© Royal School of Needlework