Windblown Eve 1736

Description

WINDBLOWN EVE, dated 1736

Stitched primarily in the characteristic reds and green common to early Scottish samplers, complete with a peacock and a black dog, this wonderful sampler features an intricately stitched floral bouquet at the center, the Ten Commandments, and a rare form of Adam and Eve under a horizontal canopied tree of life, Eve’s hair swept to her left as if blown by an unseen wind.

A similar configuration of Adam and Eve appears on a few other Scottish samplers dating from 1736 (this one, the earliest in my research). In 1740 Allison Ruddiman stitched one similar, as did Betty Pleanderleath in 1745, both samplers in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland. Two others, reproduced by The Scarlet Letter, are Jean Scrimgeowr’s sampler of 1779 and another initialled “IW’ and dated 1744, also featuring a metallic silver dragonfly.

Sadly there are neither initials nor a name on this sampler, only the date 1736, very clearly marked at the end of the eighth line.

Stitches used in the sampler are cross, petit point, double running, eyelet, four sided, and two small floral motifs in the lower quarter done in queen stitch.

On 40 count linen the reproduction will measure approximately 8-1/2″ x 13-1/4″, as does the original sampler, pictured here.

The original sampler is in the collection of The Scarlet Letter.