Embroidered sampler dated 1756, The Netherlands (TRC 2020.3683).At the end of August 2020 the TRC was given some early samplers following the sad death of Mw. Trees Verberne-Van Hamersveld, The Hague. She wanted to leave the samplers to the ‘Leiden Textile Museum’ (the TRC Leiden is often called this). We would like to thank Mrs Verberne-Van Hamersveld and her family.
There are a total of six samplers that date from between the mid-eighteenth century and 1803. They all have linen grounds and are worked in polychrome silk yarns, most of which have now faded. In addition, some of the black yarns have bled leaving heavy stains.
Three of the samplers are conventional forms with many motifs embroidered in cross stitch, although one of them also in includes letters and a date in eyelet stitch. The other three samplers are darning samplers.
Most of the samplers include a wide range of initials, numbers, and occasionally dates. Many of the initials are placed under crowns of various types. Some of the initials also have numbers under them. It is not clear if the initials are that of the maker with her age or giving the owner’s initials and the number of the object. A form that is often found on marker samplers.
The three embroidered samplers include a wide range of motifs, including animals (such as dogs and stags), birds (include cockerels, doves, peacocks and storks), plants of various types, men and women, ships, as well as buildings. The buildings are particularly interested in the diversity of the types depicted.
Detail of sampler TRC 2020.3683, with an embroidered illustration of the two Israelites returning from the Promised Land.Another group of motifs are religious and include Catholic symbols such as IHS (the shortened version of the Greek word for Jesus, IHΣΟΥΣ), as well as two men carrying large bunches of grapes. This was a popular motif and based on a Biblical text: “And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.” (King James version of the Bible, Numbers 13:23). Some time ago, we published another blog referring to this very same motif, which, it so happens, is also found on a stone plaque from the early seventeenth century in Leiden!
The three darning samplers include a wide range of darned patterns from simple tabby weave forms, striped cloth, to complex diamond twills. The diversity of forms is impressive. There are also two examples of Swiss darning, namely darning that imitates the structure of knitting. It is likely that this technique was learnt so that the girl could repair hand knitted silk stockings.
We are now studying these samplers in greater detail and over the next few weeks there will be several blogs about specific and interesting aspects that have been noted. In addition, we are planning a mini-exhibition with these intriguing pieces.
Gillian Vogelsang, 1st September 2020
