Band sampler

Ann Sayres

1739 · Silk embroidery on linen · The American Wing

American samplers made before 1750 are very rare. In this piece the silk threads retain thier fresh colors. It features three bands of alphabets and seven bands of decorative motifs, and is inscribed by its maker, Ann Sayers. Worked mainly in cross and satin stitches, the patterns found in the central horizontal bands are typical to Boston area samplers.

Artist

Ann Sayres

Date

1739

Medium

Silk embroidery on linen

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Purchase, Joel B. Leff Charitable Trust, M. B. and Fannie Finkelstein, and Charles C. Townsend Jr. Gifts, and Gift of Joan G. Hancock, in memory of Frances Burrall Henry, by exchange, 2004