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Sampler: T.3-1928

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An image of Sampler
An image of Sampler
An image of Sampler
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unidentified

Entities

Categories

Description

Linen spot sampler embroidered with polychrome silks and silver metal thread in tent, back, chain, and interlacing stitches with laid and couched work. Three edges are hemmed and there is a selvedge with a partial blue line on the bottom edge. The 'spots', randomly placed on the sampler, include stylized flowers (rose, carnartion, marigold) and fruit (pomegranate and strawberry), insects, a caterpillar, a snail, a dog, a robin, a rabbit. The flower, fruit, bird, and insect motifs have been drawn onto the linen in outline, several are unfinished and the line drawing is clear. The embroidery itself is shaded and speckled to give a realistic effect. In the bottom left hand corner is an obelisk motif.

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Length: 37.25 cm
Length: 15 in
Width: 21.25 cm
Width: 8.1/8 in

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

17th Century
Production date: possibly AD 1655 : In the lower right-hand corner there is an inked inscription which under magnification could be 1655.

Components of the work

Embroidery composed of silk ( blue, pink, brown, green, yellow, cream) silver metal thread

Materials used in production

ground Linen

Techniques used in production

Weaving : Linen spot sampler embroidered with polychrome silks and silver metal thread in tent, back, chain, and interlacing stitches with laid and couched work. Three edges are hemmed and there is a selvedge with a partial blue line on the bottom edge. The flower, fruit, bird and insect designs have been drawn onto the linen in outline, several are unfinished and the line drawing is clear. The embroidery itself is shaded and speckled to give a realistic effect.
Embroidering

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: M.B.

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: T.3-1928
Primary reference Number: 110550

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 23 July 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Sampler" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/110550 Accessed: 2025-12-06 02:50:08

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/110550 |title=Sampler |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 02:50:08|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-110550

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<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa36/T_3_1928_1_201607_kly25_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Sampler"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Sampler</figcaption>
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