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Maker/s

Unidentified (maker)

Collection

J.W.L. Glaisher

Category

embroidery

Name

sampler

Description

Spot sampler embroidered in polychrome silks, and silver and silver-gilt metal thread with forty detached geometrical, floral, and heraldic motifs, including the arms of the Chichester family of Arlington, Devon, and initials MC

Linen spot motif sampler embroidered with polychrome silks in tent, cross, long-armed cross, back, chain, eyelet, rococo and faggot stitch with pulled work. Silver and silver-gilt thread is worked in braid and interlacing stitches, and there is laid and couched work with one spangle.Three of the edges are hemmed and there is a selvedge with a single blue line on the right side. The decoration comprises some forty detached motifs with additional small panels of metal thread stitching techniques and the initials 'MC' worked in faded pink silk in the top left corner. The 'spots' are geometric, or stylized floral, or a combination of both, some worked as an all-over diaper pattern. In the centre there is a shield of arms of the Chichesters of Arlington, Devon.

Production Notes

Probably worked by Mary (b. 1608), daughter of Amyas Chichester; or Mary (b. 1615) or Margaret (b. 1619), daughters of Henry Chichester of Arlington Devon

Production Place

Arlington (maker) (place) ()

Devonshire (maker) (county) ()

England (maker) (country)

English (maker) (nationality)

Technique Description

Linen spot motif sampler embroidered with polychrome silks in tent, cross, long-armed cross, back, chain, eyelet, rococo and faggot stitch with pulled work. Silver and silver-guilt thread is worked in braid and interlacing stitches, and there is laid and couched work with one spangle. Three of the edges are hemmed and there is a selvedge with a single blue line on the right side.

Dimensions

length: 42.25 cm
width: 27 cm
length: 17 in
width: 11.1/8 in

Period

before the mid 17th Century

Date

circa 1620 to 1640

Provenance

bequeathed: Glaisher, J.W.L., Dr 1928 (Filtered for: Applied Arts collection)

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Inscriptions/Marks

1. initials
   Position: top left corner
   Method: embroidery
   Content: M.C.
   Description: embroidered in light pink
   Interpretation: makers initials
   

Documentation

1. Humphrey, Carol (1984) English Samplers at the Fitzwilliam, Cambridge (Cambs.): The Fitzwilliam Museum [page: 2]
   [comments: Publ. p. 2, no. 2, illustrated pl. 2]
2. Humphrey, Carol (1997) Fitzwilliam Museum Handbooks, Samplers, Cambridge (Cambs.): Cambridge University Press [page: 24]
   [comments: Publ. p. 24, no. 7]
3. Humphrey, Carol (1993) Sampler Exhibition in the Octagon, Cambridge (Cambs.)

Other Notes

Accession Number

T.2-1928 (Applied Arts)
(Reference Number: 110549; Input Date: 2004-11-05 / Last Edit: 2009-11-17)