Sampler

Art Historical Context

This exquisite embroidered sampler, crafted by an unknown artist in the late th century, exemplifies the textile traditions of the Islamic world. Measuring 28¼ by 25 inches (71.8 by 63.5 cm), it is made from linen and silk, materials prized for their durability and sheen in embroidery. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of Islamic Art, it entered the collection as a generous gift from Margaret Sage in 1916. Samplers like this served as personal showcases of technical mastery, displaying a range of stitches and motifs practiced by skilled artisans—often women—in domestic or...