Sampler: T.69-1938

Maker(s)

Production: Hart, L

Entities

• Sampler
• Category: forged sampler
• Category: bordered sampler

Categories

• Embroidery

Description

Sampler embroidered with polychrome silks where a central motif of alphabets and numerals , spot motifs and three staff lines and part of a verse is framed in a stylized floral border.

Woollen sampler embroidered with polychrome silks in cross, four-sided, tent, stem, and satin stitch. The top and bottom are hemmed and there is a selvedge on each side. The central motif of the sampler is framed in a stylized floral border. Inside it there are two horizontally worked alphabets, numerals and an arcaded floral band. The lower part of the central part consists of detached motifs including two trees, 'spot' motif flowers and trees, flowers pots, a few birds and what appears to be a cat. There are also three staff lines and part of a verse in the left corner of this part of the sampler. In the bottom centre a small panel contains the name 'L.Hart' and the date '1672'.

Legal notes

Longman Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1938) by Longman, H. A., Mrs

Dating

19th Century
Production date: AD 1672 : This is a forged sampler and even though the date says 1672, the piece is actually 19th century

Note

There are many discrepancies between an original 17th century sampler and this forgery: A woollen rather than a linen cloth has been used, an almost square shape has replaced the typical long and narrow format, a border has been worked on all four sides and the small detached motifs, although based on traditional patterns, are worked in the rather more naturalistic style of the eighteenth and nineteenth century date. Finally the inscribed verse and tune are conclusive proof of a nineteenth century date. The tune was composed by Alexander Robert Reinagle (1799-1877) and was first published in 1830.