B Marsallat 1905 Reproduction Sampler
REPRODUCTION SAMPLER PATTERN, READY TO DOWNLOAD, BY Couleur Tourterelle

This French sampler from the early 20th century is signed B. Marsallat 1905. It is part of the private collection of Meriem Chauvet of Couleur Tourterelle.

We wondered if this sampler was a "school sampler"? Indeed since 1882 in secular France, school became compulsory from 6 to 13 years old and the school program included the teaching of "manual work". Cross stitch was part of compulsory needlework lessons, with little girls completing series of alphabets and numbers working with red cotton thread on canvas. 

While this sampler begins in a like-wise way - bland uppercase and lowercase letters, then numbers - other parts are more ornate. A leaf border surrounds the work. Letters of the 3rd alphabet completed below the signature are quite decorative. Finally several motifs enrich the lower part of the sampler. Would our young stitcher have reused some elements of her school work and undertaken her own sampler?

What is particularly interesting in this embroidery is that some of the motifs can be traced back to older Sajou catalogs (in blue on the penultimate photo). The pattern of the dog and that of the beehive have been chosen from 2 different sets, each pattern small enough to fit into the space remaining in the lower part of the sampler.

The cross stitch chart created by Meriem Chauvet for Couleur Tourterelle is a faithful reproduction of the original sampler. The original embroidery (last photo) is embroidered in red cotton on canvas. The reproduction sampler is worked in Soie d'Alger silk  (Au ver à soie - AVAS) on linen. You can of course cross stitch this monochrome chart in any color of your choice, included variegated or overdyed floss.

A cross stitch pattern by Couleur Tourterelle.

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Chart info & Needlework supplies for the pattern:
B Marsallat 1905 Reproduction Sampler

Chart size in stitches: 139 (wide x high)
Needlework fabric: 40ct Newcastle linen from Zweigart linen, color 770
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Stitches: cross stitch,
Chart: Color and B&W, includes one-page chart for Digital stitching
Threads: Soie d'Alger silk from Au Ver à soie (AVAS) or DMC
Number of colors: 145

Themes: France, early 20th century
 

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