A Brief History of the Needlework Sampler

We’ve had a number of needlework samplers come through the doors here at Plymouth Auction Rooms. Whilst at first glance they may look ordinary, these fascinating pieces of history are highly collectable and do well at our Antiques & Collectibles Auctions! Let’s take a closer look at the history of a needlework sampler. 

What is a needlework sampler? 

Samplers date back to the 15th century and were used as a way of practising the needlework necessary to decorate items such as clothing, tapestries, fire-screens and bed linens in the home. 

A needlework sampler is essentially a piece of embroidery or cross-stitching that demonstrates a person’s needlework skill. They often include the alphabet, figures, motifs, decorative borders or sometimes text. The word ‘sampler’ derives from the Latin exemplum, which means ‘example’. 

Seen today as antique folk art, samplers are very unique and very personal. They are often dated and include the name of the person who did the stitching, giving a fascinating snapshot of a young person in an era that we rarely see. 

The earliest dated needlework sampler 

The earliest dated cross stitch sampler currently known is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was made by an English girl, Jane Bosticke with the date 1598 embroidered onto the piece.

Silk thread was used to stitch onto linen.​ In her work, Jane depicts floral and animal motifs as well as an alphabet, suggesting that she had access to a very early pattern book. In addition to demonstrating cross stitch and backstitch, she included satin, chain, ladder, buttonhole, two-sided Italian crosses and bullion, as well as french knots. 

Needlework samplers at auction 

We’ve sold many samplers as part of our Antiques & Collectables Auctions in the past. Some highlights include an 18th-century needlework sampler decorated with the alphabet, verse and symbols by Jane Hanson. This piece sold for £130 plus fees. We’ve also sold similar pieces from the 19th-century which made similar amounts at auction. 

Upcoming Antiques & Collectables Auction 

In our next Antiques & Collectables auction on the 14th of March, we have more antique samplers on offer. Most recently brought into the saleroom was a fascinating rare needlework Welsh sampler, handed down through the generations of the same family and originally created by Mary Jones in 1847. 

Do you have something similar that you think would be of interest? You can take a look at our previous auction sale results here, give our team a call on 01752 254740 or email us at info@plymothauctions.co.uk.