The Metropolitan Museum Of Art Mexican Sampler Square Cashmere-Blend Scarf

Popular between the 17th and early 20th centuries, embroidered cloths known as samplers often exhibit decorative patterns, symbols, alphabets, and verses that showcase the needlework proficiency of the young women who typically crafted them—as a pastime and as training for their awaited domestic roles. Our charming scarf reproduces the secular and religious images on a linen sampler from Mexico in The Met collection. The original features radiant floral motifs and bursting bouquets; dogs, birds, and butterflies; and a trio of sacred hearts—indicating the artisan’s Catholic heritage—beneath an inscription to their beloved parents, dated December 20, 1861.