1884 Sampler

Can be purchased EXCLUSIVELY at

Ant of Sweden

The original is stitched on canvas with wool thread (background silk). There is no name, nor a date on it. The sampler is tacked to a cupboard which was framed with a newspaper. And that is how I named the sampler; there is a date on it!

I have not reduced the size of the images below. Please click on them if you wish to examine the details.

 

A miniature sampler from Austria - 30 x 6 cm

 

  

Here is another spectacular darning sampler from the same source as the 1874 darning sampler in my possession ... The perfection in stitches makes me wonder ... Were they stitched by the same talented young lady? Probably not ... Names are different.

A good way to identify the source of a sampler, as I learn, is the names stitched on them. But speaking non of the languages - Dutch or German, I could have never guessed their origin if I had not known that they arrived from Germany.

These pictures below are high resolution. Please click on them to observe the amazing details!

Look how perfectly the mending blends into the unity of the pattern ... Fascinating!

   

        
Beidermeier Sampler



Anna Kirchner - 1852

Wool on Linen

         

                 

Berlin Work sampler from my collection

Austria - Late 19th Century

            

   

I am the proud and happy owner of this gorgeous baby that has been anxiously waiting to be exhibited in one of my drawers ... Had gotten it from Germany and it is in fascinating condition compared to its age. All samples done in silk floss ... As to fabric, it may well be silk too but cannot really tell. I'd say very finely woven linen. Except for the corner "peacock" bit as I call it, all patterns are about 5 cm square. Peacock is an 8 cm square!

   

  

I thought this to be a quite interesting way of presenting and preserving a darning sampler. Surely, there is no way I could know if this was done by its owner or later by one of the family members. May be this is very normal to a German lady and is mundane. Nevertheless, of all the zillion samplers, I have not yet seen one like this. It is sewn into a form of envelop and the bearer had something in mind to place in it. The wrapped width is only 22 cm, so it cannot be meant for lingerie. May be to place a hand-written note to the dear one, who knows!

I want to preserve it as is but, using my simple picture software flavoured with determined patience, managed to cut & paste the corners along with the central bit, made the necessary rotations, retouches ... And voila, this is how it should look if the pompom was to be removed and the linen ironed flat :)

Not well visible from the pictures above but there are five different darning samples and here are the close-ups :

   

 

Berlin Work sampler from the US ... However, of German or Austrian origin ... Possibly late 19th or early 20th!