Sampler
Object name
Date made
1951
Place made
Description
Map of England and Wales embroidered by L.W.W. in 1951.
Content description
An embroidered map of England and Wales worked by L.W.W. in 1951. It features an outline of England and Wales in double red lines, worked in stem stitch, a yellow sun-shaped compass rose in the top right corner in stem stitch, and an embroidered navy name plate in the bottom right bearing the inscription 'This Map of England & Wales was worked by L. W. W., 1951' with a buttonhole stitch outline and stem stitched letters. Above England is a small portion of Scotland worked in orange stem stitch.
Within the country outline, representative geographical and landmark features are worked in satin stitch and stem stitch, including lakes, grasses, castles, steamships, farming equipment, and golf clubs. Around the country outline are stem-stitched waves and small representations of natural and fantastical sea creatures, birds, sailing ships, and in the upper left corner, icebergs. The work is bordered with three lines of stem stitch in navy, yellow, and navy.
Embroidered map samplers like this were used to teach both sewing and geography skills to young women, usually in a school setting, from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. Examples like this from the 20th century would be mimicking those older examples but would likely have been worked for leisure rather than learning. This sampler is the twin of a map of Scotland also worked by L.W.W. in 1951, also in the RSN Collection (RSN.2781).
Within the country outline, representative geographical and landmark features are worked in satin stitch and stem stitch, including lakes, grasses, castles, steamships, farming equipment, and golf clubs. Around the country outline are stem-stitched waves and small representations of natural and fantastical sea creatures, birds, sailing ships, and in the upper left corner, icebergs. The work is bordered with three lines of stem stitch in navy, yellow, and navy.
Embroidered map samplers like this were used to teach both sewing and geography skills to young women, usually in a school setting, from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. Examples like this from the 20th century would be mimicking those older examples but would likely have been worked for leisure rather than learning. This sampler is the twin of a map of Scotland also worked by L.W.W. in 1951, also in the RSN Collection (RSN.2781).
Dimensions
width: 33cm
height: 43cm
height: 43cm
Materials
Stitches
Motifs
Catalogue number
RSN.3117
© Royal School of Needlework