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1974

  • We acquired this object.

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2024

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Sampler (England)

This is a Sampler. It was embroidered by Mary Finkel. It is dated 1730 and we acquired it in 1974. Its medium is silk and linen embroidery on linen foundation and its technique is embroidered in counted satin and double running stitches, needle lace fillings in cut work areas, on plain weave foundation. It is a part of the Textiles department.

Samplers originally served as sketchbooks where women could record stitches and design ideas for future use. With the advent of printed books of patterns for lace and embroidery in the 16th century, this practice became less common, and samplers evolved into exercises for girls learning the techniques of needlework. Several samplers of nearly identical format to this one, including those of Mary Tredwell (Victoria & Albert Museum), Sarah Leesley (Museum of Fine Art, Boston) and Mary Brown in this collection, mark these samplers definitively as school exercises.
Beginning with a plain piece of fine linen, fourteen squares and fourteen circles were cut out. Some were filled with needle lace, most likely adapted from pattern books. Others are filled with hollie-point embroidery, in which tiny holes are left in densely worked buttonhole stitch, giving the appearance of patterned knitting. Hollie point was very much in fashion for ornamenting baby clothes and christening sets in the 1720s and 30s.

This object was bequest of Rosalie Coe. It is credited Bequest of Rosalie Coe, from the collection inherited from her mother, Eva Johnston Coe.

  • Altar Set (USA)
  • linen.
  • Gift of Scuola d' Industrie Italiane in New York through Florence Colgate....
  • 1943-41-1-a/d

Our curators have highlighted 6 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Cover (USA)
  • linen.
  • Gift of Mrs. William Bayard Cutting in memory of Mary E. Parsons.
  • 1943-44-9

Its dimensions are

H x W: 22.9 x 22.2 cm (9 x 8 3/4 in.)

Cite this object as

Sampler (England); Embroidered by Mary Finkel; silk and linen embroidery on linen foundation; H x W: 22.9 x 22.2 cm (9 x 8 3/4 in.); Bequest of Rosalie Coe, from the collection inherited from her mother, Eva Johnston Coe; 1974-42-3

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Making Design.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18483259/ |title=Sampler (England) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=8 May 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>