Sampler
Object name
Date made
Late 17th century-early 18th century
Place made
Description
Late 17th-century or early 18th-century red, green, cream, and blue band sampler initialled 'EP' and dated 'Sep 30'.
Content description
Late 17th-century or early 18th-century red, green, cream, and blue band sampler initialled 'EP' and dated 'Sep 30'. Worked on unbleached linen with silk threads. Though the sampler's threads are now light blue, light green, cream, and red, it is likely that these have faded from their original hues.
The sampler has ten pictorial bands of varying widths. Most of the bands are floral, with daisy-like flowers, stylised carnations, roses, and thistles. Strawberry motifs appear through the sampler. Included in the sampler are a band of grapes and another of stylised carnations and Celtic knots, two bands that appear frequently in 17th-century band samplers. The sampler utilises double running, back, straight, and Montenegrin stitches.
At the bottom of the sampler is an alphabet consisting of a mixture of upper and lowercase letters. This is followed by the initials 'eP', the initials of the maker, and 'SeP 30', the assumed date the sampler was completed. This text is wrought in alternating blue and red threads.
Though it is not known who made this sampler or when, its decorative scheme of horizontal bands and its long length suggest this sampler dates to the end of the 17th century or the beginning of the following century.
The sampler has ten pictorial bands of varying widths. Most of the bands are floral, with daisy-like flowers, stylised carnations, roses, and thistles. Strawberry motifs appear through the sampler. Included in the sampler are a band of grapes and another of stylised carnations and Celtic knots, two bands that appear frequently in 17th-century band samplers. The sampler utilises double running, back, straight, and Montenegrin stitches.
At the bottom of the sampler is an alphabet consisting of a mixture of upper and lowercase letters. This is followed by the initials 'eP', the initials of the maker, and 'SeP 30', the assumed date the sampler was completed. This text is wrought in alternating blue and red threads.
Though it is not known who made this sampler or when, its decorative scheme of horizontal bands and its long length suggest this sampler dates to the end of the 17th century or the beginning of the following century.
Dimensions
width: 24cm
height: 64cm
height: 64cm
Materials
Stitches
Motifs
Catalogue number
RSN.296
© Royal School of Needlework