Finding Meaning in Motifs

Motifs

S amplers in centuries past have served several purposes. For the young stitcher, whether learning at school or at her mother’s knee, a sampler served as a permanent record of various stitches, which were placed in bands and borders as decorative elements. The sampler could later be referred to when an example of a particular stitch was needed.

Samplers were not simply a rote recital of a schoolgirl’s stitching lessons. Through the centuries, motifs were created whose symbolism would be understood by others on a local, regional, national or religious level.

Although samplers often contain poetry or other verse, many of the motifs lovingly stitched on fabric had meaning to the stitcher and, if the sampler was to be given as a gift, to the recipient. Along with carefully stitched verse, motifs conveyed what the stitcher was thinking, what was important to her at the time, or perhaps something she desired to convey to others.

The Susanna Rambo 1836 Sampler was stitched at a tender age by a girl to give to her parents. Motifs of only good intention were included, as one might think someone in her early childhood would create. Filled with flowers, fruits, birds and butterflies, along with a loving sentiment to her parents and God, the sampler gives a glimpse into what Susanna, as a child, may have been like.

In samplers, each type of flower may have one or several meanings. Tulips, which are found in the Rambo sampler, are symbolic of the Holy Grail, the chalice, the woman or perfect love. Other flowers on the Susanna Rambo sampler may be flights of fancy or a medium in which Susanna was practicing various stitches.

Sweet butterflies flit among the blooms in the Rambo sampler. Playfulness and pleasure have been attributed to the butterfly motif.

Birds are a frequent sampler motif, and Susanna included them in her sampler. Birds are associated with the soul, goodness and hope, and they often appear as good omens.

If a particular bird is portrayed, it might have a specific meaning. If the type of bird is not obvious, as in the Rambo sampler, the way the bird or birds are situated within the sampler has a meaning unto itself.

The birds in the center of Susanna’s sampler are shown in pairs, commonly associated with eternal life. But what do the single birds in the upper corners of the border symbolize as they appear to be looking off the sampler in opposite directions? This is one of the fun puzzles to be pondered as you stitch the Rambo sampler!

References: Sampler Motifs and Symbolism by Patricia Andrle and Lesley Rudnicki, Hillside Samplings, first edition 2003 https://hands-across-the-seasamplers.com