Sampler

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk-on-linen sampler, created in 1754 by an unknown American artist, exemplifies the colonial era's tradition of embroidered textiles. Measuring 16½ × 10 inches, it features delicate floral motifs—a common tag for such works—stitched with vibrant silk threads a sturdy linen ground. Samplers like this were prized decorative arts, blending utility and artistry in household settings. In 18th-century America, girls crafted samplers as essential lessons in needlework, literacy, and piety. Often including alphabets, numbers, or moral verses alongside blooming flowers symbolizing vir...