Sampler c. 19th century

This sampler was made by Mary Holt, who completed it in her eleventh year. The artwork is stitched with silk thread on linen, and the even weave of the ground is critical to the composition. It is made up of small crosses of thread, each carefully placed. The resulting image is a combination of textual elements, including the alphabet and a short verse on friendship, alongside imagery of birds, trees, and architecture. The overall effect is flat, graphic, and charmingly naive, in the best sense of that word. Sampler making was a traditional skill imparted to young women, often from privileged backgrounds, and was an exercise in both literacy and the mastery of needlework. The quality of the work speaks to the importance of skilled handcraft in earlier eras. It also gives us insight into the experience of young women in this period, their education, and the expectations placed on them.