What Makes This English Sampler Sew Spectacular?

When it comes to collecting antiques, some folks are very specific in their interests.  Others like "a little bit of this, a little bit of that" to mix things up a bit.  Here's one fabulous find from a recent New England Antique Shows event that satisfies both groups  - vintage samplers!  It is thought that the word "sampler" was derived from the Latin word for "example", which would be exemplum. Take a look at this stunning, handmade work of art from 1829 - done by an eight year old! Bernice Conn, of Bernice Conn Antiques, gives us peek at some of the bits and pieces that make this sampler "sew" spectacular.

If a stitch in time saves nine, then this sampler has a very long life ahead! This piece was made by a young woman named Elizabeth Brown, who lived in Worcester, a town in the west midlands of England.  (As a complete side note, this town is also the home of the Lea and Perrins factory where traditional Worcestershire sauce is made.)  The sampler itself is about 13 inches square.  The backing material is a cream colored linen, and the theme colors in the handiwork are in the tans and browns.  The sampler has a floral motif to it; there is a main border of interlocking tulips, additional horizontal lines of connected flowers, pots and vases of flowers, and sweet little stems around the girl's name.  The piece also shows Elizabeth's skill with letters and numbers; the top of the sampler has a line of all capital letters, and a little below that is a line of small letters, symbols, and numbers.  The main text on the piece has a modest, religious, innocent tone to it, almost like a prayer.  It reads in part...

Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand.

And the first effort of an infants hand.

And while her fingers on the canvas move.

Engage her tender thoughts to seek thy love.

With thy dear children let her share a part.

And write thy name thyself upon her heart...

It is interesting to weave together the history and evolution behind samplers.  Believe it or not, they started out as a practical way to preserve knowledge, almost like a diary. In the 15th and early 16th centuries, women would see new and interesting stitching patterns and then recreate small samples of them on a piece of linen cloth.  This was done to remember the design for future use.  These early "samplers" were rather random and more like a collection than an organized piece of art.  Next, "band samplers", which were elaborate, highly decorative samplers done on long narrow pieces of cloth, became quite popular in the mid-16th century.  These often included many intricate patterns and designs, and up to 20 colors and types of embroidery thread.  

It was not until the 17th century that samplers started to include borders, alphabets, and religious themed quotations - those elements most commonly associated with samplers in most people's minds today.  By the 18th century, samplers had evolved into a tool to train young girls on practical decorative and darning skills.  These were often done at home under the careful watch of a sewing tutor.  By the early 19th century, most sampler training was done through in-school programs which specifically focused on design and creation.  This sampler on the left, also from Bernice Conn, was stitched by 10 year old Alice Blake Williams in 1835, and demonstrates many of these early 19th century themes.

Overall, the "demise" of samplers can be roughly tied to the rise in affordability and availability of sewing machines in the late 1800's.

I would like to thank Bernice Conn of Bernice Conn Antiques for her fine tutelage on vintage English samplers.  Located in Voorhees, NJ, Bernice Conn Antiques specializes in delightful American and British antiques including biscuit tins, canes and walking sticks, sterling silver powder bowls and jars, Victorian brass frames, fine china, fireplace accessories, and decorative accessories.  For more information on these samplers, please contact Bernice directly at Connbebe@aol.com.

What is your very favorite antiquing, vintage, or design find? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Learn more about New England Antique Shows and their upcoming events by clicking here.