The Project Gutenberg eBook of Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries

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Title: Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries

Author: Marcus B. Huish

Release date: December 27, 2012 [eBook #41717]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

Language: English

Credits: E-text prepared by the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SAMPLERS AND TAPESTRY EMBROIDERIES ***

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries, by Marcus Bourne Huish

Note:

Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://archive.org/details/samplerstapestry00huisrich

SAMPLERS AND
TAPESTRY EMBROIDERIES

Tho our Countrie everywhere is fil’d
With ladies and with gentlewomen skil’d
In this rare art, yet here they may discerne
Some things to teach them if they list to learne
And as this booke some cunning workes doth teach
Too high for meane capacities to reache
So for weake learners other workes here be
As plaine and easie as an A B C.
—The Needle’s Excellency.

Larger Image

Plate I.—Tapestry Embroidery. Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth.
The Corporation of Maidstone.

(Frontispiece.)

The very unusual piece of Embroidery reproduced as our Frontispiece may date from the Accession of Queen Elizabeth, in which case it is the earliest specimen of an embroidery picture that we have seen. It would appear to be the creation of some exultant Protestant rejoicing at the restoration of his religion, which to him is “Good tidings of great joy”; for his Queen holds the Bible open at this verse, and is ready to defend it with her sword. Edward VI. also upholds the Bible in his upraised hand, whilst Henry VIII. has one foot on the downtrodden Pope, and the other on his crown, which he has kicked from his head. Popery is portrayed in Mary with her Rosary and Papal-crowned Dragon. The presence of the Thistle raises a doubt as to its being of the Elizabethan age, but although this flower consorts with the Rose it also does so with a pansy, which deprives it of its value as an emblem of Scotland. The piece belongs to the Corporation of Maidstone.

SAMPLERS & TAPESTRY
EMBROIDERIES

BY
MARCUS B. HUISH, LL.B.
Author of “Japan and its Art,” “Greek Terra Cotta Statuettes”
“The American Pilgrim’s Way,” &c.

SECOND EDITION

WITH 24 COLOURED PLATES AND
77 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT

Preface to the Second Edition

I have explained, in the chapter upon English Needlework with which this volume opens, the reasons which prompted me to take up the subject of Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries, and I have here only to thank the many who, since its first issue, have expressed their acknowledgment of the pleasure they have derived from it, and to record my gratification that it has induced some of them to start the study and collection of these interesting objects.

In the present edition several American Samplers of considerable interest, kindly furnished by correspondents in that country, are noted and illustrated.

I am indebted to the publishers for putting the present volume on the market at a more popular price than the expense of the first edition permitted.

		PAGES
	ENGLISH NEEDLEWORK.— Its Practice in Past Times.—Its place amongst the Minor Arts.—Mr Ruskin’s Views as to Needlework in a Museum.—Lack of a History.—Exhibition of Samplers.—Range of this Volume	1-5

PART I.—	SAMPLERS.—The Need of.—The Age of.—Inscriptions on.—Alphabets and Numerals on.—Signatures on.—Inscriptions on.—Design, Ornament, and Colouring of, including: The Human Figure; Animals; Flowers.—Further Inscriptions on.—Verses which Commemorate Religious Festivals; which take the form of Prayers and Dedications; which refer to Life and Death; which Inculcate Duties to Parents and Preceptors; which have reference to Virtue or Vice, Wealth or Poverty.—Quaint Inscriptions; Crowns; Coronets; Hearts; Borders.—Miscellanea respecting Samplers, namely:—the Age and Sex of the Workers; the Place of Origin of Samplers; Samplers as Records of National Events; Map Samplers; American Samplers; Foreign Samplers; Sampler Literature; the Last of the Samplers	7-122

PART II.—	EMBROIDERIES IN THE MANNER OF TAPESTRY PICTURES.—Large Numbers Exhibited at Fine Art Society’s.—Opportunity for their Examination, and for making Record of their History.—Difficulties Surrounding Investigation of Origin of Industry.—No Apparent Infancy.—No Specimens discoverable earlier than Elizabethan Era.—Theory as to fashion originating with introduction of Tapestry Manufacture to England.—Particulars of that Manufacture.—Three-fold Interest of Picture Embroideries: (1) Subjects Depicted thereon; (2) Historical Material as to Fashions; (3) As Specimens of Needlework.—Particulars respecting Subjects, Fashions of Dress, Horticulture, etc.	123-141

PART III.—	(1) STITCHERY OF EMBROIDERIES IN IMITATION OF TAPESTRY AND THE LIKE.—Background Stitches.—Figures in Raised Needlework.—Knot Stitches.—Plush Stitch.—Embroidery in Purl and Metallic Threads.—Bead Embroidery.—First Stage of Embroidered Picture	143-160

	(2) THE STITCHERY OF SAMPLERS, WITH A NOTE ON THEIR MATERIALS.—Cut and Drawn Work.—Back Stitch.—Alphabet Stitches.—Darning Stitches.—Tent and Cross Stitches.—Various Stitches.—Materials	161-171

	INDEX	173

List of Colour Plates

PLATE		To face page
I.	Tapestry Embroidery. Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth	Frontispiece
II.	Sampler, by M. C. 16th-17th Century	9
III.	Portion of Long Sampler, by A. S. Dated 1648	16
IV.	Sampler, by Elizabeth Calthorpe. Dated 1656	20
V.	Portion of Sampler, by Mary Hall. Dated 1662	24
VI.	Portion of Sampler, by Elizabeth Creasey. Dated 1686	36
VII.	Sampler, by Hannah Dawe. 17th Century	42
VIII.	Sampler, by Mary Postle. Dated 1747	48
IX.	Sampler, by E. Philips. Dated 1761	56
X.	Sampler, by Catherine Tweedall. Dated 1775	66
XI.	Sampler, by Ann Chapman. Dated 1779	78
XII.	Sampler, by Ann Maria Wiggins. 19th Century	90
XIII.	American Sampler, by Martha C. Barton. Dated 1825	100
XIV.	Tapestry Embroidery: Christ in the Temple, Stoning of Martyrs, Etc. About 1625	123
XV.	Tapestry Embroidery. The Story of Hagar and Ishmael. About 1630	124
XVI.	Tapestry Embroidery. Charles I. and his Queen. About 1630	126
XVII.	Lid of a Casket. The Judgment of Paris. About 1630	130
XVIII.	Tapestry Embroidery. The Story of Queen Esther. About 1630	132
XIX.	Lid of a Casket. About 1660	143
XX.	Back of Casket in Tapestry Embroidery. Signed A. K., 1657	144
XXI.	Beadwork Embroidery. Charles II. and his Queen, Etc.	150
XXII.	Tapestry Embroidery. Dated 1735	158
XXIII.	Purl Embroidery. 16th and 17th Century	161
XXIV.	Darning Sampler. Dated 1788	164

Illustrations in Text

FIG.		PAGE
1.	The Visit to the Boarding School, by George Morland	xiv
2.	Bottom of Sampler, in Knotted Yellow Silk, by Mary Caney, 1710	1
3.	Upper Portion of Sampler, by Pupil in Orphan School, Calcutta, 1797	9
4.	Sampler of Cut and Embroidered Work. Early 17th Century	16
5.	Portion of Sampler. 17th Century	17
6.	Portion of Sampler of Cut and Embroidered Work. 17th Century	18
7.	Samplers in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Dated 1643, 1667, 1696	19
8.	Long Sampler, signed Ann Turner. 1686	24
9.	Sampler, by Elizabeth Baker. 1739	25
10.	Sampler, by Charlotte Brontë. 1829	29
11.	Sampler, by Emily Jane Brontë. 1829	31
12.	Sampler, by Anne Brontë. 1830	33
13.	Easter Sampler, by Kitty Harison. 1770	37
14.	Sampler, by Elizabeth Stockwell. 1832	43
15.	Sampler, by Sarah Young. c. 1750	53
16.	Drawn-Work Sampler, by S. I. D. 1649	59
17.	Sampler, by Jean Porter. 1709-10	61
18.	Sampler. Name Illegible. Date, 1742	63
19.	Sampler, by Mary Anderson. 1831	67
20.	Sampler (? Scottish). 18th Century	69
21.	Small Scottish Sampler, by J. H. [Jane Heath]. 1728	71
22.	Sampler, by Mary Bywater. 1751	72
23.	Heart-shaped Sampler, by Mary Ives. 1796	73
24.	Drawn-work Sampler, by S. W. 1700	76
25.	Border of Mary Lounds’s Sampler. 1726	77
26.	Border of Mary Heaviside’s Sampler. 1735	77
27.	Border of Elizabeth Greensmith’s Sampler. 1737	77
28.	Border of Margaret Knowles’s Sampler. 1738	78
29.	Border to Sampler, by Elizabeth Turner. 1771	78
30.	Border to Sampler, by Sarah Carr. 1809	79
31.	Border to Sampler, by Susanna Hayes. 1813	79
32.	Small Sampler, by Martha Haynes. 1704	81
33.	Sampler, by Sarah Pelham, aged 6	83
34.	Scottish Sampler, by Robert Henderson. 1762	85
35.	Two Small Samplers, by May Johnson. 1785-6	87
36.	Two Small Samplers, by Lydia Johnson. 1784	87
37.	Scottish Sampler, by Mary Bayland. 1779	89
38.	Sampler, by Mary Minshull. 1694	90
39.	Map of North America, by M. A. K. 1788	93
40.	Map of England and Wales, by Ann Brown	94
41.	Map of Africa. 1784	95
42.	Sampler, by Anne Gower	98
43.	Sampler, by Loara Standish	99
44.	Sampler, by Miles and Abigail Fleetwood	99
45.	Sampler, by Abigail Ridgway. 1795	100
46.	Sampler, by Elizabeth Easton. 1795	101
47.	Sampler, by Maria E. Spalding. 1815	102
48.	Sampler, by Martha C. Hooton. 1827	103
49.	Sampler, by the Lamborn Family. 1822	105
50.	Sampler, by Elizabeth M. Ford	106
51.	Sampler, by Lydia J. Cotton. 1819	107
52.	Sampler, by Helen Price	114
53.	Beadwork Sampler, by Jane Mills	119
54.	Sampler, by Elizabeth Clarkson. 1881	121
55.	Embroidered Glove. Early 17th Century	123
56.	The Judgment of Paris. About 1630	129
57.	Tapestry Embroidery: The Finding of Moses. About 1640	134
58.	Portion of a Book Cover. 16th Century	136
59.	Purl and Applied Embroidery. About 1630	137
60.	Embroidery Picture. Charles II. and His Queen. 1663	141
61.	Hollie Point Lace, from Top of Christening Cap. 1774	143
62.	Cushion-Stitch Background: Embroidered Book Cover, dated 1703	145
63.	Eyelet-Hole-Stitch: from a Sampler dated 1811	146
64.	Tapestry Embroidery. About 1640	147
65.	Face worked in Split-Stitch: Enlarged from Embroidery Reproduced in Fig. 63	150
66.	Face worked in Split-Stitch: Enlarged from Lower Portion of Fig. 63 (not reproduced)	151
67.	Knotted-Stitch: Enlarged from Embroidery Reproduced in Fig. 63	152
68.	Embroidery Picture: A Squire and His Lady. Dated 1657	155
69.	Hair of Unravelled Silk: Enlargement of Portion of Embroidery Reproduced in Plate	157
70.	Groundwork Tracing for Embroidered Picture. 17th Century	159
71.	Moulds for Knotted, or Lace-Work, with Silk Spools and Case	160
72.	Drawn-Work Sampler. 17th Century	162
73.	Cut and Drawn-Work: Enlargement from 17th Century Sampler	163
74.	Satin-Stitch and Combination of Types of Open-Work: Enlarged from the Sampler Reproduced in Fig. 4. 17th Century	164
75.	Back-Stitch: Enlargement of Portion of Sampler in Fig. 5. 17th Century. Twice Actual Size	165
76.	Darning Sampler. Signed M. M., T. B., J. J. 1802	167
77.	Enlarged Portion of a Darning Sampler. Dated 1785	169

Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries / Second Edition

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