Pictorial Dutch Sampler

Many beautifully designed and stitched pictorial motifs fill this excellent Dutch sampler, which was made in the province of Zeeland in 1791. It greatly resembles another, which is published as figure 158 in Over-merklappen Gesproken… by M.G.A. Schipper-van Lottum - a 1783 sampler in the collection of the Dutch Costume Museum in The Hague. Both of these samplers feature the same fine central domed-top building, toothy wolf-dog, resting deer, rampant lion, pair of exotic birds in the upper corners, tall vases of flowers, angels flanking the date and many other smaller elements.

In general, many Dutch motifs bear specific and well-documented meanings and we find it interesting to note these. The fox and resting deer both represent wisdom and the rampant lion holding a sword and arrows denotes Dutch national independence from Spain in 1648. Joshua and Caleb, the Spies of Canaan, carry a story of hope for the future and the Dutch Free Maiden represents liberty. Fruited trees, open-tail peacocks, pears, cherries and roosters further decorate the sampler.

The samplermaker stitched many sets of initials on either side of the building and certainly these include her own, as well, perhaps as those of her teacher and classmates. Worked in silk on linen, the sampler is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in a mahogany frame.