Sary Burditt 1755

Description

Early to mid 18th century English samplers often borrowed motifs usually associated with Dutch or German samplers, including highly stylized birds and animals, the spinning monkey, geometric-shaped cartouches surrounding initials or dates, and motifs with religious symbolism, or relating Biblical tales. This tendency is evident in Sary Burditt’s sampler, which depicts the Spies of Canaan carrying grapes with the associated verse stitched underneath. The band shape is reminiscent of 17th century samplers. The bold palette of color used was not uncommon, and was matched to the original, unfaded colors at the back of the sampler. What seems most extraordinary to us today is that a seventeen year old girl stitched this originally.