During a period dating from around 1807 and 1880 approximately 20 samplers were stitched in the Groningen area of the Dollard. These samplers are significant in their similarity of call. They undergo all been stitched using a black silk thread. The linen used was of a consistent size - about 50cm x 60cm. And they are all symmetrical. The girls were generally aged between 13 and 17 years of age which is consistent with going to a secondary school of some sort. They were generally the daughters of well to do farmers. Why were these samplers stitched only in black? Some of the reasons considered consider the religious accent of the girls - they came from a Groningen Protestant ‘Bible Belt’ area where the predominant clothing colour was black. It is also possible that the samplers were considered to be less complicated when only embroidered in black or it may undergo been mandatory for the use of the black silk in sampler making at the boarding schools attended by the girls.
Other reasons for the exclusive use of the black silk include the unavailability of coloured silks. Many of these families lived on isolated farms where much of the sewing paraphernalia came from traveling salesmen or hawkers. The other reason cited may be that the sampler makers were copying printed pattern books. As these were printed in color and white it may be assumed that the sampler maker was encouraged to go the pattern exactly.
Although it was already known that iron had a detrimental cause on textiles most of these silks were dyed with a dye cram containing press resulting in the discolouration and damage of many of these samplers - were there more samplers that due to the damage caused by the press were disposed off.
Some of the other characteristics of these samplers include the symmetrical use of develop baskets with carnations tulips and grapes. They also contained some animal motifs especially the rooster - a symbol for the Christ and doves the symbol of like and faithfulness in marriage. There was usually no alphabet on the sampler. The exception appears to be the first known sampler stitched on by two sisters. The measure known sampler was made in 1880 by a 29 year old around about the measure of her wedding.
Are there more samplers that fall into this assort of samplers? If so where are they? Some of the samplers known to exist can be viewed at the Museum voor Naaldkunst in Wedde. NL and also at the Sampler Museum in Celle. There are a number of other places that these samplers can be viewed.
Hennie Stevan-Bathoorn has written a more comprehensive book about these samplers and this is one publication that I can recommend to populate interested in the fascinating world of samplers.
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