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Lot Essay
During the 17th Century, girls were trained in needlework beginning at a very early age. The sampler, rather than being simply decorative, was a means to teach a young girl domestic craft and discipline and also reinforce Protestant moral teachings. It was also very important in an age when books were rather a rarity as it was a source of reference for patterns and stitches.
Designs for embroideries were executed by a draughtsman or the embroiderer and derived from pattern books, such as Richard Shorley's A Schole-house for the Needle of 1624, collections of engravings such as from the Theasurus Sacrarum Historiarum Veteris Testamenti published by Gerard de Jode in Antwerp in 1585 or purchased in kits. The embroiderer could use the pattern as a guide and interpret and embellish the design in her own way, with her own details, colors and materials.
The length of a band sampler was determined by the width of the loom on which it was made. The average length of such a piece was about 20 in. (52 cm.). This sampler is significantly larger. It is also quite remarkable in its execution as well as its survived condition. The very fine open stitches create extremely beautiful and delicate lace patterns. A related whitework sampler from the Burrell Collection is illustrated in L. Arthur, Embroidery: 1600-1700 at the Burrell Collection, London, 1995, p. 58, figs. 38 and 39.
Designs for embroideries were executed by a draughtsman or the embroiderer and derived from pattern books, such as Richard Shorley's A Schole-house for the Needle of 1624, collections of engravings such as from the Theasurus Sacrarum Historiarum Veteris Testamenti published by Gerard de Jode in Antwerp in 1585 or purchased in kits. The embroiderer could use the pattern as a guide and interpret and embellish the design in her own way, with her own details, colors and materials.
The length of a band sampler was determined by the width of the loom on which it was made. The average length of such a piece was about 20 in. (52 cm.). This sampler is significantly larger. It is also quite remarkable in its execution as well as its survived condition. The very fine open stitches create extremely beautiful and delicate lace patterns. A related whitework sampler from the Burrell Collection is illustrated in L. Arthur, Embroidery: 1600-1700 at the Burrell Collection, London, 1995, p. 58, figs. 38 and 39.