Sample

Sample from Amsterdam, dated 1843. Sample from Amsterdam, dated 1843. Courtesy Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, acc. no. BK-KOG-1649-F.

In decorative needlework, the word sample is used to describe a simple or randomly worked form of sampler. The intention of making a sample is to try out various techniques, designs or lay-outs, or to remind the worker of the technique and/or patterns, or to show them to a few others.

A sample is generally not made in order to be displayed, in contrast to a sampler, which is a more formalised piece of work that was intended to be shown and seen in public.

The TRC in Leiden houses a sample from the Miao ethnic minority in China, which was used for teaching weaving techniques (TRC 2018.2084).

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam online catalogue (retrieved 26th August 2018).

GVE

Last modified on Sunday, 26 August 2018 16:35