Paula Casyanaza,
Spain or Colonial Spain,
circa 1840

Sampler size:
22" x 22½"
Framed size:
27" x 27½"

Price: $

Enlarged and Printer Version

In 1998 the Hispanic Society of America, located in New York, held an exhibition entitled "Learning the Art of Embroidery: Nineteenth Century Spanish Samplers." From the earliest sampler in their collection, worked in 1834, to the later examples, it was clear that vivid coloration, highly decorative bands and borders and extremely fine workmanship typify Spanish and Spanish Colonial samplers.

We are pleased to offer a large and very handsome sampler made by Paula Casyanaza circa 1840, with many splendid borders (worked in the classic four-sided format) and with its original corner tassels fashioned from the embroidery silks. Four stylized flowering corner devices anchor the center panel which is richly embellished with birds, animals, trees, baskets, crowns, chairs, etc. arranged in a mirror-image format.

This sampler has an unusual and interesting provenance. It was in the Emma-Henriette Schiff von Suvero Collection which included an outstanding group of European and American samplers as well as furniture, ceramics and paintings. After her death in 1924, the collection remained with her family until it was confiscated by the Nazi regime in 1939. It was then given to the Staatliche Kunstgewerbemuseum, Vienna, now known as the Museum für Angewandte Kunst (MAK). These items were either displayed or stored at the museum (the samplers were unframed) until the spring of 2003 when they were rightfully restituted by the Austrian government to the heirs of Emma-Henriette Schiff von Suvero.

Worked in silk on linen, it is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted into a molded walnut frame.

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