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Sampler: T.102-1938

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Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Unidentified

Entities

Categories

Description

Linen spot motif sampler embroidered with polychrome silks in long-armed cross-stitch, cross and satin stitch with a little silver metal thread laid and couched. All three edges are hemmed. The sampler is vaguely arranged in horizontal bands mostly containing detached motifs including a large central male figure around which are arranged patterns such as a lobster, a cockerel, a duck, a peacock, a table and chairs, a pierced heart, a wreath containing the inscription 'SEL 1771' and some geometrically worked squares. The two bottom bands contain figures and animals, including a peacock, two facing birds flanking a flower, a tree, a small deer, a cabinet and what looks like a group of three travellers.

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Mrs H.A. Longman

Measurements and weight

Length: 50.5 cm
Length: 20.1/4 in
Width: 25.7 cm
Width: 10.1/4 in

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century
Production date: AD 1771

People, subjects and objects depicted

Materials used in production

blue, yellow, red, pink, brown, green, orange Silk
Linen
Silver metal thread

Techniques used in production

Weaving : Linen motif sampler embroidered with polychrome silks in long-armed cross-stitch, cross and satin stitch with a little silver metal thread laid and couched. All three edges are hemmed.
Embroidering
Couching (embroidering)

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: embroidered in faded pink silk thread

  • Text: S.E.L. 1771
  • Location: Inside a wreath in the upper part of the sampler
  • Method of creation: Embroidery
  • Type: Initials and date

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: T.102-1938
Primary reference Number: 110833

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 28 August 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/110833 Accessed: 2025-12-05 09:43:40

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/110833 |title=Sampler |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 09:43:40|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-110833

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Sampler</figcaption>
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