Sampler made at the British and Foreign School Society
Unknown Artist
1825
Medium
Wool embroidery on cotton
Dimensions
H. 3 7/8 x W. 3 1/2 inches (9.8 x 8.9 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
British
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
57.122.565
Art Historical Context
This delicate wool embroidery on cotton, created in 1825 at the British and Foreign School, exemplifies the educational samplers crafted by young girls in early 19th-century Britain Measuring just under 4 inches high and 3½ inches wide, this petite textile likely served as a student's practice piece, showcasing proficiency in stitching alphabets, motifs, or verses—common features in such works. Produced under the auspices of the Society, founded in 1808 to provide non-sectarian education to children from diverse backgrounds, it reflects the era's emphasis on moral and practical training, parti...