In the right hand bottom corner there is a man depicted smoking a pipe. He may be a bee-keeper. Characteristic features of samplers from this period are the octagons, the wide edges, the decorated letters, and the images taken from daily life, including the beekeeper, but also a horse-drawn carriage, a mill, etc.
The sampler is 48.5 x 32 cm and is dated to AD 1701. The embroiderer is Gooitie Cornelis. Along the border to the left the sampler carries the text:
GOOITIE CORNELIS/ ANNO DOGTER/ 1701/ GEIAREBFHEPW/ DE DOOT EN CHRISTI LIDEN WERELTS BEDROG AEN ALLE SIDEN/ DES HEMELS VREUGT DER HELLEN/ PIN LAAT ALTID IN UE GEDAGTEN SIN
(...... The death and suffering of Christ, worldly deception on all sides, the joy of heaven, the sin (the pain) of hell, let it always be in your mind)
Source: TATERRA-GUNDACKER, Sabine. 'Gooitie 1701', in: European Reproduction Samplers. 17th - 20th Century Samplers from Museums and Private Collections. Click here (retrieved 1st May 2016).
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam online catalogue (retrieved 2nd July 2016).
WV