Sampler Practice Piece

Period1840 - 1850

MediumPlied silk thread on linen

Dimensions4 × 17.13 in. (10.2 × 43.5 cm)

ClassificationsNeedlework

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1934

Object number708.15

DescriptionAn elongated open weave natural linen panel, with selvedge edges at left and right and narrow hems along the top and bottom. The panel is worked in plied silk thread in black, dark green, grass green, dark blue, medium blue, blue-green, sky blue, clear red, rose, pale pink, purple, pale yellow, and tan. Both cross and queen stitches are used. Eight separate and well-worked motifs are embroidered on the linen roughly from left to right. A small cornucopia with a floral bouquet appears above a leaping stag. What appears to be an architectural or repeat band corner is embroidered in bold black, blue, and pale yellow. In the center of the linen panel is a four petaled floral design, worked in queen stitch, with cross stitched leaves. A large strawberry repeat band vine also in queen stitch appears above a floral repeat band worked in cross stitch. A closely stitched and colorful butterfly appears to the right of the bands. In the lower right portion of the panel is worked a naturalistic bunch of blue and purple grapes with leaves and tendrils. The architectural motif and the grapevine motif both retain lengths of their original embroidery thread, which remains uncut.
Curatorial RemarksThis practice piece is interesting both for the excellent quality of the embroidery stitches as well as for the designs. Several of the motifs, including the charming floral cornucopia, the butterfly, and the grape bunch, appear to suggest commercially-designed patterns in the nature of Berlin work. Moreover, the closely-worked stitching, while done in delicate silk thread, points to the mid-century date of this practice piece. By the 1840s, traditional cross stitch samplers worked in silk thread were rapidly being replaced by Berlin work embroidery, using commercial designs and bright wool embroidery yarn. Although unidentified as to both maker and origin, this practice piece entered the Association's collection with a number of other practice fragments, and may come from the New Jersey or Pennsylvania area.

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