National Female Model School

This miniature sampler is truly a gem, with perfect composition and stitching throughout. It was made in Dublin, Ireland at the National Female Model School, which was located on Kildare Place. Samplers like this were stitched into actual large books as final projects and evidence of the accomplishments by various students. 

This is an example of a complete book

Girls attending the National Female Model School were trained to become teachers and used these miniature samplers as proof of their needlework skills and to remind them of the techniques learned when they went on to teach.  

This sampler came with an illustrious provenance - by verbal repute it was for many years in the personal collection of Cora Ginsburg, one of this country’s most distinguished dealers and collectors of early needlework.

Worked in silk on wool, it is in pristine condition and has been conservation mounted into an early black painted and molded frame.