Embroidered Sampler 1721

This embroidered sampler was made in 1721 by Anne Chase. Its visual imagery and text offer us a window into the religious, moral, and educational values of early 18th-century New England. The sampler is divided into horizontal bands filled with stylized floral and animal motifs, and moralizing religious verse. Its cultural context is that of colonial America, where the Protestant faith was a central organizing principle in social life. Features of that culture such as a deep engagement with religious texts and the importance of domestic life and women’s roles have influenced the artwork. This piece exemplifies the self-consciously conservative nature of early American society, where religious piety, obedience to God, and the adherence to traditional social norms were highly valued. The role of the historian is to look beyond the apparent simplicity of the piece to the social and cultural structures that shaped its creation. Research into religious texts, colonial history, and the lives of women in early America can help us better understand the cultural meaning of such works.