Needleworks & Needlework Samplers

The history of fine vintage needlework is steeped in the use of samplers by various civilizations and cultures for centuries. Early examples of samplers come from South America and Africa, while those from Europe emerged in the 16th century. The social history of antique needlework is reflected in their design. From royalty to everyday schoolgirls, embroidery and stitchwork have played an increasingly important role in the lives of women throughout history. Over recent centuries, there has been an impressive revival of decorative design and handicrafts, and needlework has played a distinctive and distinguished role in these developments. Through pattern books and borrowed examples, the symbols of the motifs were often passed on across generations and national boundaries. There was, however, no static pattern - the patterns were continually being adjusted. Some of the motifs are inspired by nature and the garden, including plants, flowers, birds, shells, and animals.

Samplers once contained swatches of fabric showing stitchery in them. Runnings, double Runnings, rice, French knots, Florentine, tent, and cross stitches were some of the stitches used on samplers. As ornamental objects, samplers served to highlight family history. Typical 18th Century samplers feature pictorial images, family trees, geometric patterns, alphabet lettering, or memorable occasions like births, weddings, or deaths. Silk or wool threads are most commonly used in samplers, which are stitched onto canvas grounds. Typically, they display numbers, verses, alphabets, and motifs, and then are framed, ready to hang. The samplers can also display other attributes such as the names of the makers, the dates of production, and the structures of schools and homes.

Bidsquare offers a wide variety of antique needlework for sale, including band samplers and spot motif samplers, dating from the seventeenth through to the nineteenth century. There is usually a wide variety of genealogical, historical, and commemorative antique embroideries in our collection, along with Quaker, map, and darning samplers. The collection also includes samplers from institutions, such as orphanages, prisons, asylums, and charity schools. Along with an impressive collection of antique needlework samplers for sale, Bidsquare also features a variety of sewing tools, such as scissors, needle cases, chatelaines, etuis, pincushions, necessaries, tape measures, and silk winders.