In learning to embroider, young girls learnt to stitch decorative motifs of trees, flowers, images of places and maps as well as numbers and the letters of the alphabet. These elements on their embroidered samplers may not only pique our curiosity, but also supply us with historical information.
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| Margret Begbie Sampler, Courtesy National Museum of Australia |
Mary McGillivray, in this ABC News article, discusses a couple of samplers held in Australian museums. She raises the question, Why would a ten year old Scottish girl, Margret Begbie, embroider a sampler of Botany Bay, Australia? The possible answers are fascinating.
Thank you for sharing this. It is very interesting!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, these samplers are proof that even the very young can manage neat stitching. They must have been taught to stitch slowly and carefully so as no mistakes were made. So girls these days must be equally capable of such work.
Secondly, the samplers contain a lot of information about animals, flowers, buildings, fonts and design.
Thirdly, the samplers are often signed so we know who stitched them and what year. As the article says, there are few records of girls' names for other things.
As for this particular sampler, I think Botany Bay could refer to the destination of the ship. The ship's stern is facing land, so it could well be that the ship is departing rather than arriving.
It was also interesting to read that the project could be a 'powerful moral lesson' - no girl would want to be sent to the other side of the world as a punishment for life!
Isn't embroidery fascinating?
Queenie
Thanks for posting, Lyn. It’s interesting. I was drawn to the deterrent theory until the information that she ended up emigrating. Seems more likely she has curious and adventurous. A great story.
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