Hands Across the Sea Samplers are pleased to present to you an early 18th century band sampler that was featured in the 2016 exhibition: “Now Whilst My Hands Are Thus Employed, Three Centuries of Historic Samplers” held at Witney Antiques in England.
Worked in the traditional long, narrow band form of the 17th century, with brightly coloured silks, the original sampler was stitched by Jane when she was just seven years old. This is a remarkable achievement for such a young girl. Every sampler that has survived through the centuries is a wonderful memorial to their young makers. They owe their survival to the past generations that have cherished them and handed them down into our care.
Jane was born in 1711 during the twilight of Queen Anne’s reign. Unfortunately there is no trace of a Jane Vaughan’s birth but we do know that during her childhood George ascended the British throne as the first monarch of the House of Hanover in 1714. Although over fifty Roman Catholics bore closer blood relationships to Anne, the Act of Settlement 1701 prohibited Catholics from inheriting the British throne.
Jacobite rebellions in Scotland in 1715 led by Lord Mar, and in 1719 supported by Spanish troops intending to place James Edward Stuart (‘The old Pretender’) on the throne, found little support and were quickly defeated. The ‘South Sea Bubble’ in which shares in companies were purchased in rash financial speculation before a stock market crash in 1720 left many investors ruined.
During George’s reign, the powers of the monarchy diminished and Britain began a transition to the modern system of cabinet government led by a prime minister. Towards the end of his reign, actual political power was held by Sir Robert Walpole, now recognised as Britain’s first de facto prime minister.
In the early decades of the 18th century literacy became more important and the repeated rows of alphabets found in young girls’ needlework reflects the importance of the sampler as a method of teaching. Jane’s sampler portrays alphabets and numbers in cross stitch, Algerian Eyelets, satin stitch and Montenegrin stitch with each letter or number worked in different coloured silk thread. As with the inscriptions on many early 18th century samplers the words run into each other making it difficult to read the text.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG I COMMITED SIN I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THY TESTIMONIS(testimonies)REMOVE FROM ME THE WAY OF INIQUITIE(iniquity) AND ACCORDING TO THI(thy) COMMANDMENTS DIRECT THOU ME PLEAD THOU MY CAUSE OMNIPOTENTIE HOUA FOR MANI(many) ARE MINE ENEMIES O LORD THOU KNOWEST.
IANE (Jane) VAUGHAN HVR (her) WORK BEGAN AND ENDED IN THE SEVEN YEAR OF HVY(her) AGE OC TOYE
It is possible the inscription has been taken from Psalm 119 which is the longest psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. It is referred to in Hebrew by its opening words, “Ashrei temimei derech” (“happy are those whose way is perfect”).
The lower half of the sampler has rows of border patterns including 2 “oriental” figures, Jane’s version of boxers.
Jane’s sampler has been rated as being suitable for an intermediate stitcher. For those wishing to progress she is a good introduction to the beauty of band samplers from the early 1700’s. All the motifs have been counted out for you within the graph and there are comprehensive instructions together with stitch guides.
The stitches used are cross stitch over 2 and 3 threads, satin stitch, Algerian eyelets, Montenegrin stitch over 2 and 3 threads, stem stitch, back stitch, double running stitch and faggot stitch.
Jane’s sampler was a joy to reproduce and stitch. I hope that you have many hours of enjoyment stitching this stunning band sampler ~ Nicola.
