Embroidered Sampler

Art Historical Context

Created in 1739 by Ruth Rogers, this embroidered sampler exemplifies early American folk art from the colonial period. Worked in vibrant silk threads on a linen ground, the 18¼ x 9-inch piece features meticulously stitched motifs of flowers, leaves, and the biblical figures of Adam and Eve, evoking the Garden of Eden. Such designs were common in samplers, blending natural beauty with moral storytelling drawn from scripture. Samplers like this one served as both educational tools and personal achievements for young girls in 18th-century America. Ruth, likely a teenager, would have practiced essential stitches—cross-stitch for bold outlines, satin stitch for smooth fills—to master domestic skills vital for future homemaking. These works often included alphabets, numbers, and verses, though here the focus on Paradise highlights themes of innocence and temptation. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this sampler, a 1984 gift from Barbara Schiff Sinauer, offers a window into colonial women's creativity and piety. Its preservation showcases the durability of silk embroidery, preserving Ruth's handiwork for generations and underscoring the cultural role of needlework in shaping American identity.