Embroidered band sampler

Unknown

17th century · Silk on linen · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Band samplers are composed of horizontal rows ("bands") of embroidered patterns stitched along the linen foundation fabric. Many of the patterns stitched onto band can be traced to sixteenth-century pattern books, and often include depictions of fruit, flowers, and geometric patterns. This sampler is made up of bands of varying heights that feature birds, acorns, pineapples, and a variety of flowers. The bottom of the sampler includes an alphabet consisting of a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters and small, seemingly randomly placed motifs, resembling a spot sampler.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th century

Medium

Silk on linen

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

From the Collection of Mrs. Lathrop Colgate Harper, Bequest of Mabel Herbert Harper, 1957