Sampler Practice Piece
Period1800 - 1830
MediumPlied silk thread on linen
Dimensions3.5 × 3.25 in. (8.9 × 8.3 cm)
ClassificationsNeedlework
Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1934
Object number708.8
DescriptionA small square practice piece of coarsely woven brown linen, with all four sides left raw. The embroidery is worked in plied silk thread in dark green, spring green, dull orange, sky blue, pale pink, pale yellow, and light tan. All motifs are worked in queen stitch. In the center, a small square motif with a feathered star is closely worked. Smaller scattered embroidered elements are arranged around the central motif, and include a single strawberry and a single row of queen stitch worked as a band. Several of the sections retain lengths of their original threads.Curatorial RemarksQueen stitch, also known as rococo stitch, was highly popular in eighteenth and early nineteenth century sampler embroidery. It was also used for personal accessories such as pin balls and pocket books. In examples of queen stitched pin balls, the embroidery is closely worked, covering the linen ground with colorful silk thread. The stitch itself is both time-consuming and challenging to accomplish correctly. The creator of this small square of linen may have been practicing her queen stitch skills intended for either a sampler or for a small accessory for a family member or close friend.
Collections
