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Sampler: T.18-1928

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Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Smeeth, An

Entities

Categories

Description

Band sampler, linen, worked in polychrome silk thread, silver metal thread with spangles and pearls. Horizontal repeating floral border patterns, and a pictorial scene of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba accompanied by an inscription.

Linen band sampler worked with polychrome silks and silver metal thread in double running, cross, long-armed cross, Montenegrin cross, arrowhead cross, Algerian eye, detached chain, plaited braid and trellis stitch with speckling, bullion knots, couching, spangles and pearls. There is a plain selvedge at the top and the other edges are hemmed. The sampler is divided into six horizontal sections, four of them bands of horizontal repeating floral border patterns. The upper section is inscribed 'KING SOLOMON AND THe queeNe OF a/SHABA AN SMeeTH 1654'. Beneath this are King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and an attendant in 17th century dress in front of an elaborate tent, surrounded by flowers, trees and animals of disproportionate scale, clouds and the sun. Another section contains various randomly placed detached motifs including a lion, donkey, dragon, sheep, caterpillar, 'boxer', flowers and trees.

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Length: 59.5 cm
Length: 24.3/8 in
Width: 24.75 cm
Width: 10 in

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

17th Century
Production date: AD 1654 : Commonwealth

Materials used in production

ground Linen
polychrome Silk
Spangles
Pearls

Techniques used in production

Weaving : Linen band sampler worked with polychrome silks and silver metal thread in double running, cross, long-armed cross, Montenegrin cross, arrowhead cross, Algerian eye, detached chain, plaited braid and trellis stitch with speckling, bullion knots, couching, spangles and pearls. There is a plain selvedge at the top and the other edges are hemmed
Embroidering

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: T.18-1928
Primary reference Number: 110565

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 7 May 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Sampler" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110565 Accessed: 2025-12-06 16:34:02

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110565 |title=Sampler |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 16:34:02|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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