Object of the Month: July 2026

• Object name: Needlework pictures/samplers
• Material: Wool and/or silk on canvas, cotton and/or linen
• Date made: c.1820s
• Acquired in the 1950s

Chosen by Helen Reynolds, Customer Services Assistant

A needlework sampler is a piece of embroidery or cross-stitching produced as an example of a test of skill in needlework which includes the date, alphabet, figures, motifs, decorative borders and the craftsperson’s name.

Before the introduction of printed designs, embroiderers and lace makers needed a way to record and reference different designs, stitches and effects. The answer was to create a sampler, a personal reference work featuring patterns that the owner may have learned or copied from others to recreate again in new pieces.

The word ‘sampler’ is derived from the Latin ‘exemplum’, which means ‘example’. In many cultures learning needlework was an important part of a young girl’s education.

The Object of the Month can be seen in person throughout July 2026 at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.