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Sampler

1656
Not on view
The maker of this colorful and neat sampler, Anna Bockett, dated it very precisely to July 12, 1656; perhaps the day she completed it. As such, we can locate Ms. Bockett's work within the 11-year British republican period, when Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.

This type of sampler is known as a band sampler, distinguished by horizontal rows – bands – of patterns embroidered across its linen support. Most of the patterns in Anna Bockett's sampler derive from sixteenth-century printed pattern books and would have been very conventional, perhaps even old-fashioned, by this time. However, Ms. Bockett's work is particularly noteworthy for its inclusion of the landscape scene, where a couple face each other, a loyal dog and Cupid – swooping down from above – blessing their union.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sampler
  • Maker: Anna Bockett
  • Date: 1656
  • Culture: British
  • Medium: Linen worked with silk thread; long-and-short, split, stem, back, tent, cross, and satin stiches
  • Dimensions: H. 27 7/8 x W. 10 3/8 inches (70.8 x 26.4 cm); Framed: H. 30 3/4 x W. 12 1/4; D. 1 1/4 (78.1 x 31.1; 3.2 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Embroidered
  • Credit Line: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
  • Object Number: 64.101.1327
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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