CN Borders and Motifs - Couleur Tourterelle

The initials C and N are the only clue left by the stitcher. No date, no location, but after all there wasn’t any point in including them, because rather than a sampler intended for needlework practice, this piece was designed to save patterns for a future use, a sort of personal “catalogue” of motifs and borders. Indeed, this small band contains over 40 different designs.

What makes it particularly pretty and decorative is its wonderful mix of colorful designs, tightly fitted together so as many motifs as possible are included. Many motifs are repeat patterns, with only the strictly necessary elements needed to extend the stitching. Themes include many florals, roses of every size, a large pansy, but also interesting foliage motifs of various sizes, one of them a vine. There are a couple of geometric borders and one striking element in the center is the black lace berribonned rose stem - black lace being a popular element of fashion in the late 19th century when this work was presumably completed.

The pattern includes a couple of straight stitches, some Smyrna cross stitches and some cross stitches worked over 1 thread. Meriem Chauvet's (the collector and designer behind Couleur Tourterelle) worked the reproduction sampler in silk thread, matching every color found. Unfortunately some guess work was needed for specific areas of the lace pattern, the only color used that was really damaged over time, but the chart is as close as possible to the original sampler. Photos all show the original in the background, and the reproduction in front.

Reproduction Sampler stitched using Soie d'Alger silk from Au Ver à soie (AVAS) or DMC, with most cross stitches worked over 2 fabric threads on 40ct linen (some over 1 fabric thread). Size 13.7 x 3.5 inch (34 x 9 cm).

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