Sampler Fragment
19th century
Medium
Linen, plain weave; cross stitch with hemstitched hem; top edge is cut
Dimensions
43.8 × 13.3 cm (17 1/4 × 5 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
54863
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Sampler Fragment**, crafted in the 19th, offers a glimpse into the world of domestic needlework from a bygone era. Made from linen plain weave, it features cross-stitch embroidery—a popular, durable technique that creates bold, geometric patterns—and a finely hemstitched hem for polished edge. The top edge appears cut, suggesting it is a surviving piece of a larger sampler, measuring 43.8 × 13.3 cm. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Textiles Department, it exemplifies everyday craftsmanship preserved as cultural treasure. Samplers like this were essential educational to...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...