Sampler
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk on wool
Dimensions
H. 7 1/2 x W. 8 1/2 inches (19.1 x 21.6 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
German
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
From the Collection of Mrs. Lathrop Colgate Harper, Bequest of Mabel Herbert Harper, 1957
Accession Number
57.122.583
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming 19th-century German, crafted with silk threads on a wool ground, measures a modest 7½ x 8½ inches. Embroidered by an unknown artist—likely a young woman or girl as part of her domestic education—it showcases delicate motifs of chickens, swans, dogs, and flowers. These vibrant, naturalistic designs reflect the popular pictorial samplers of the era, where embroidery served as both a practical skill and a creative outlet in European households. In 19th-century Germany, samplers were essential tools for teaching needlework, patience, and artistry to girls preparing for marriage and ...