Sampler (Mexican)
Maker Once Known, Mexican People (Mexico)
Sampler (n.d.)
cotton, wool, silk
51.8 x 39.8 cm
Gift of Louis Slavitz
91-332
This is an embroidery sampler from Mexico which likely dates to the the period of the 1800s-1900s, when embroidery was an important skill in which girls of all backgrounds needed to show proficiency. An exhibit on Mexican Embroidery at the V&A points to the rise of the crossed stitch technique in the 19th century, and discusses how this technique soon surpassed other stitching methods used in most examples of Mexican embroidery thereafter. This sampler features a hemmed beige cotton fabric background with cross stitched floral and geometric motifs arranged along edges in cotton, wool, and silk threads. It also includes some figurative work, also in cross-stitch: a monkey, two mermaids, and several birds including a pair drinking out of a fountain. We see the beginning of the alphabet (A-D) is stitched in black cotton thread, and the initials "AJ" stitched above the right-hand mermaid in red silk thread. It is likely that this piece was left incomplete as the stitcher moved on to other projects, given the incomplete alphabet, and the bald mermaids. We don't know the name of the girl was who created this sampler, but it is fun to see this reminder of her learning journey.
This page has paths:
- Creatures - Real and Imagined Jennie Smithken-Lindsay
- Decorative Techniques from Around the World Jessica Nelson