Studio for Historical Samplers
oooooo
Ute Scheer und
Dorothee Kandzi
Chart for a Saxon Sampler

 

EMAB 1695

 

price of the chart:
18,00 Euro

 

size: ca. 15 x 60 cm / 6 x 26 inches
crosses: 100 x 414
 

*)  Difference between reproduction and material might be possible

- linen:
  unbleached
  14 threads/cm
- floss: silk, 7 colours*)
- needle
- instruction

49,00 Euro
I thank for the kind cooperation with the Museum Europäischer Kulturen, Berlin and the Verein der Freunde des MEK

 

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This small Saxon Sampler from 1695 is housed in the Museum Europäischer Kulturen in Berlin.

 

 

There is not much known about the history of this sampler, even the description in the catalogue "Sachsen" (Saxonia) has a question mark.
But the sampler has typical caracteristics of Saxon Samplers: long, narrow, stitched upon fine linen, several stripes with geometrical and plant patterns, alphabets and single motifs.

 

The original sampler has been stitched in 23 colours.
I decided to stitch in 7 colours - nature, blue and green. The chart uses this choice of colours.
 

This sampler is stitched upon a bright natural linen, the mostly used floss has nearly the same colour as the linen, you can only see the structure of the stitches.

Not only in Saxonia of the 17th century corner motifs were stitched but also in the Netherlands: they represent the type of motif that was used in the corner of the "knottedoek": "a square linen kerchief or cloth embroidered in cross-stitch that was used to hold the dowry (100 silver sixpences) when a girl's hand was asked in marriage. The kerchief embellished with a rhyme, was offered to her loosely knotted. If she pulled the knot tight it meant her answer to the proposal was "yes!" One rhyme on a 17th century kerchief read: "Pretty love, pray accept the gift I give you here. Although the gift is a small, You know well enough what I mean - Ian Direks." (look at: Meulenbelt-Nieuwburg, Albarta; EMBROIDERY MOTIFS From Old Dutch Samplers; NY Charles Scribner's Sons 1974)

 © Ute Scheer 2005