Rebecca Riddiford, Map of Palestine,
Oxford, England,
1834

Sampler size:
16½" x 11½"

Price: $sold

Enlarged and Printer Version

"The stitching of map samplers began in the eighteenth century, when school curriculums broadened to emphasize more practical subjects such as mathematics, geography, civic, and the natural sciences. To aid in the study of geography, girls created map samplers," according to Samplers From A to Z by Pamela A. Parmal, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. This detailed map sampler, entitled "Palestine in the Time of Our Saviour," was finely worked by Rebecca Riddiford at the age of 15 in 1834, Oxford, England. A great number of English schoolgirls worked maps of England but we have only known of one other sampler that depicts this particular ancient map. Note the use of the biblical names for various cities and regions; we must assume that this project overlapped with the study of the history of religion.

The likely source of this particular map is an 1808 atlas published in London by Charles Smith and dedicated to his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. The map of Palestine was designed and engraved by Thomas Starling. Miss Riddiford outlined each territory with precise cross stitches and located many cities with a single black "x". Using the black silk thread, the linear stitched rivers meander throughout the map; the cities, seas and regional names were also worked in the same fine stitch, although varying in color. A handsome border, a wrapped post, frames the sampler nicely.

Worked in silk on wool this sampler is in very good condition with one slightly darker area to the wool. It has been conservation mounted and is in a black molded and painted frame.

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