Sampler Practice Piece

Period1810 - 1830

MediumPlied silk thread on linen

Dimensions2.25 × 10.13 in. (5.7 × 25.7 cm)

ClassificationsNeedlework

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1934

Object number708.16

DescriptionA narrow rectangular practice piece on natural linen, with all four edges narrowly hemmed. The embroidery is done in plied silk threads in dark green, spring green, dark blue, light blue, brown, tan, rose, pale yellow, and cream white in cross and queen stitches. Ten separate birds are embroidered on the linen panel. Among the motifs are two identical birds, one rendered in light brown and cream, the second in pale pink and pale blue. One bird, difficult to see, is worked only in outline in pale yellow thread. At the far right is a plump green and pink bird worked in queen stitch.
Curatorial RemarksThe young maker of this practice piece focused only on birds, embroidering ten different motifs on this narrow scrap of linen. The largest, a dark green plump bird stitched near the right edge of the linen, is worked entirely in queen stitch, with only its legs embroidered in cross stitch. Queen stitch was most often used in working floral elements and such ornaments as strawberry vine repeat bands. A queen stitched bird is unusual. It may be that the unknown embroiderer was trying out various avian motifs, planning to incorporate one or more in her formal sampler panel.

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