Sample Book c. 19th century

This sample book of unknown date and maker speaks to the intersections of commerce, craftsmanship, and representation. These books were essential tools for traveling salesmen, offering potential customers a glimpse into available textiles or designs without transporting bulky merchandise. The book’s pages, likely filled with an array of patterns and materials, reflect a society deeply invested in trade, both locally and globally. The images evoke the colonial era with a figure of an indigenous man and colonist set against the backdrop of a ship, subtly reminding us of global trade's impact on identity. The act of sampling itself raises questions about cultural appropriation and the power dynamics inherent in the exchange of goods and ideas. What stories are woven into the patterns, and whose voices are silenced or amplified through the selection and display of these samples? Consider the layers of history embedded in this object. It's a portal into a world where identity, trade, and visual culture converged, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of our shared past.