Sampler: T.7-1952

Maker(s)

Production: Philips, Prisca

Entities

• Sampler
• Category: band sampler

Categories

• Embroidery

Description

Band sampler embroidered with alphabets, an inscription and several detached motifs including a heart, flower vases, a panel containing initials and some animals.

Linen band sampler embroidered with polychrome silks in cross, eyelet, double running, rococo, satin and stem stitch. Three sides are hemmed and there is a selvedge at the top. The pattern is arranged in horizontal bands of inscriptions; the top band contains the verse 'Prisca Philips look well to what yov take in hand for larning is better then house or land when land is gone and money is spent then larning is most excellent', ' Avgust the 7 1700' with interjections of small animals. Beneath this is a band which reads 'IVdeth Hayle was my mistres' and stylized arcaded flowers. The next band contains an alphabet. Below the bands are detached motifs including a heart, two flower vases and a variety of animals, and a panel containing the initials 'PP' and on either side of it the initials 'I' and 'H'.

Legal notes

Lady St John Hope Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1952-10-23) by Hope, St John, Lady

Dating

17th Century, Late
Production date: AD 1700 : William and mary

Note

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.1-1995; T.17-1938, T.83-1928)