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Thursday 4 June 2009

Samplers in the Museon Arlaten


The Museon Arlaten in Arles is one of my favourite pleasures while I am on holiday in France. It is a small but perfectly formed museum of everyday life in Arles and its book shop has stunning publications on local costume history. I am writing this away from home, and when I am home I shall create another pdf download for you with more information. There are not many early samplers in France, but I thought you would love to see these darling two which come to you with the good wishes of the curator. The alphabet on the second sampler reminds me of alphabets I have seen on some Irish samplers. I was thinking today that borders round samplers remind me of the borders around printed chintz scarves and shawls of the time.

8 comments:

  1. Jacqueline,

    How very beautiful. I especially like the first one. Would you be doing a reproduction chart on any of them?

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  2. Beautiful samplers. I love boarders around samplers also. I exspecially love when the corners are odd and different on each side. It makes me think that the maker had to use their imagination which makes each one unique and a work of art. Please convey a Merci to the currator for allowing you to share with all of us.

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  3. OH, I just saw the bodices that you also posted. How exquiste, they make me want to pull out my linen and antique costume patterns and get started. My sister-in-law would freak if she opened one of these for Christmas- some year. Now that was when getting dressed was an art. Amazingly they are not all that uncomfortable to wear. I wear 1800 versions with my Civil War Dress and they are actually comfortable- but only 16 hours at a time. It also feels good to take them off at night.

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  4. lovely !!!
    regards from France
    françoise

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  5. ce musée est vraiment très beau et plein de richesses

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  6. c'est vrai que ce musée est formidable, j'ai beaucoup aimé moi aussi

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  7. The bodice pictures are exquisite! Did you notice the blue one with the attached sleeve? The maker "fussy cut" the fabric to make the floral pattern matched when the sections were sewn together. That's rare even today. Manufacturers who offer matched pockets and sides charge accordingly... and brag heavily.

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