These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.
Download this imageCreative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.
Maker: Canting, Mary
Band sampler worked in polychrome silks depicting alphabets, stylised flowers, arcaded flowers and panels containing initials.
Linen band sampler embroidered in polychrome silks in cross, hem, double running, Algerian eye, satin, chain, whipped stem and trellis stitch. The pattern consists of horizontal bands of lettering, and stylised floral and abstract motifs. The bottom half of the sampler contains an alphabet and the verse 'LOOK WELL TO WH/AT YOU TAKe IN HA/ND FOR LARNING IS/ BETTer THeN HOV/Se OR LAND WHeN L/AND IS GONE AND MO/NeY IS SPeNT THen/ LARNING IS MOST eX/CeLeNT. AVGVST the 18 1694.' Underneath this verse is another alphabet and the numbers 1 to 8. The bottom band consists of a panel with the initials 'MC' and on either side of it the initials 'IH' and 'M'. Surrounding the panel are a heart, a vase of flowers, two dogs and a bird.
History note: Unknown before donor
Mrs H.A. Longman Bequest
Length: 55.5 cm
Length: 22.3/8 in
Width: 16.25 cm
Width: 6½ in
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1938) by Longman, H. A., Mrs
17th Century, Late
William and Mary
Production date:
AD 1694
The dominance of lettering is typical for samplers of this period as literacy had become an increasingly important part of the education of young women, and the stitching of name, date, alphabets, and improving verses was seen as a means of instilling basic secular and moral education. The growing importance attached to lettering and literacy inevitably reduced the stitch variety on samplers.
This sampler is part of a group linked by the same name of a 'dame' or 'mistris' . (T.83-1928; T.1-1995)
ground
Linen
pink, blue, green, yellow
Silk
Weaving
: Linen, embroidered in polychrome silks in cross, hem, double running, Algerian eye, satin, chain, whipped stem and trellis stitch.
Embroidering
Accession number: T.17-1938
Primary reference Number: 110748
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Sampler" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110748 Accessed: 2024-12-23 08:47:40
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110748
|title=Sampler
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 08:47:40|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-110748
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center"> <figure class="figure"> <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa36/T_17_1938_1_201703_amt49_dc2.jpg" alt="Sampler" class="img-fluid" /> <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Sampler</figcaption> </figure> </div>
Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...