Art by Cynthia: Art Inspiration from Ancestors: Antique Dutch Samplers

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Art Inspiration from Ancestors: Antique Dutch Samplers

Thanks to research by my brilliant genealogist cousin Bill, the earliest ancestors in my Dutch maternal grandfather's line can be traced to a little Flemish town now in the modern country of Belgium. The family emigrated from Amsterdam to the U.S. over 350 years ago. Maybe this explains, in part, my interest in these charming antique Dutch samplers! The other part would be their lovely, colorful, geometric designs.

From Vanessa Boer's blog: "Darning Samplers were prevalent in the Netherlands in the late 18th and early 19th century as sewing was a vital skill for 12 - 17 year old girls to learn. Young girls were taught how to embroider by their mothers as well as in school. Working as a linen seamstress could provide a steady living for these young women and their families. It was especially important for the girls in orphanages to master these skills so they would have an occupation to support themselves upon leaving the home. The training was so serious that these darning samplers were considered a sort of final exam in the orphanages. Because of the bright thread used to show the stitches and craftsmanship more clearly, the patterns and layers of color make beautiful combinations!"