"Flowers, plants and fishes, beasts, birds, flies, and bees,
Hills, dales, plains, pastures, skies, seas, rivers, trees,
There's nothing near at hand or farthest sought
But with the needle may be shaped and wrought."
John Taylor, 1634
In 1995, while designing a sampler for a friend's Wedding present, I decided to look into the meanings of appropriate traditional symbols From there I went on to discover the symbolism and origins of as many traditional sampler motifs as I could. There may be many more, or alternative meanings, but I thought that other sampler enthusiasts would like to share the results of my endeavours. I would particularly like to thank Elizabeth Tarnove, who took the trouble to enlighten me regarding Jewish symbolism; her information has now been included in my list. If you have any suggestions for additions or corrections please e-mail me with the details, and I will update the list. |
| Motifs Index | |
| Animals | Birds |
| Buildings | Fish |
| Flowers | Fruit |
| Insects | People and Figures |
| Reptiles | Symbols, Shapes and Colours |
| Trees | Transport |
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Cat: idleness and coquetry, love of ease, freedom.
Regarded as holy in ancient Egypt. Deer: See Stag Dog: fidelity and watchfulness; in personification of loyalty it accompanies a figure carrying keys or a signet ring. It may also indicate envy or wrath. Goat: in antiquity was the symbol of unchastity and sensuality, thus becoming in the Middle Ages a symbol of Satan; because sinners are likened to Goats in the Gospels, it is a symbol of the damned. Hare: faintheartedness, timidity and flight. Hart: See Stag Horse: in Teutonic mythology this shining, sacred steed of the Gods is a symbol of the sun; represents male potency and fertility, also high spiritedness, pride, speed, ardour. A horse and its rider symbolize the human and the divine sides of Christ. Lamb: charity; as the "Lamb of God" has religious significance. Lion: strength, steadfastness, courage; a lioness with cubs represents charity on Dutch or German samplers. In Jewish ceremonial art, lions are often depicted in pairs, facing each other. Monkey: the Devil; represents a whole string of vices which contrast with all the good points of the Virgin Mary. Spinning Monkey: folly, laziness, lechery, vanity. In Dutch samplers he is a symbol of the devil. Rabbit: frequently occurs together with the lion; it is an ancient motif used for thousands of years; being chased by a dog it represents a good soul fleeing before evil. Squirrel: mischief, especially in the Garden of Eden. Stag or Hart: the hart belongs to the Goddess Artemis; it represents gentleness and pride and on Dutch samplers signifies a longing for Christ. Two harts drinking at a stream represent baptism. Unicorn: chastity and purity and a symbol of the Redeemer; also used in heraldry. A favourite mythological creature, its horn was endowed with magical properties. It could purify poison spring water by making the sign of the cross above the water; a drinking vessel made from its horn would dispel poison and prevent convulsions and falling sickness. A unicorn could only be captured by a young maiden as it was attracted to chastity and purity, so huntsmen would take a young maiden with them when hunting this elusive creature. A white unicorn symbolizing chastity and purity represents the Virgin Mary. |
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Bird in a Cage: on Dutch samplers represents hope. Cock: watchfulness, a symbol of Christ as conqueror of darkness; because of Peter's first feeling of remorse at cock crow it is a symbol of penitence. Often depicted in pairs on Dutch samplers. Dove: charity, mercy, love, marital fidelity, humility, simplicity and meekness; it is a symbol of the Holy Ghost. With a letter in its beak it is a messenger of love; drinking at a fountain they represent eternal life, spiritual life and salvation; two doves facing symbolize peace. Also symbol of peace; often shown flying with an olive branch in its mouth. Duck: according to the ancients Greeks it represents marital fidelity. Eagle: one oldest of symbols,it symbolizes strength, faith, pride, lofty thought, keen eyesight; it was the emblem of the Roman Empire, and as national emblem of America, it appears frequently on American samplers. Falcon: pride and nobility. Goose: watchfulness and stupidity, gullibility, garrulity. Owl: The owl has two opposite faces:- wisdom and learning, due to its connection with Minerva and Athena the Goddess of Wisdom ; but also symbolizes the Devil or demon of avarice. In heraldry the owl represents watchfulness, vigilance, prudence, solitude. Parrot: talkativeness and gossip. Peacock: ostentation, vanity, luxury ; but may also represent gracious demeanour or immortality. The belief that a peacock's flesh did not decay, together with the fact that it renewed its incredible plumage every year, led to it being an emblem of Christ, the resurrection and eternal life. In mediaeval times it represented kingly or knightly demeanour, thus the knights swore their oaths of allegiance with their hands placed on the side of a stuffed peacock. In Jewish symbolism it represents beauty of eternity to come in heaven. Pelican: piety; signifies death and resurrection, a widespread emblem of Christ's death on the cross; charity. According to legend, if the pelican's young strike her with their wings, she kills them, but then after three days she will peck open her breast and restore them to life with her blood. The "pelican in her piety" designs depicts her performing this act of restoration. Phoenix: hope. Stork: parental love, filial devotion; its Germanic name (adebar or odebar) means "bringer of happiness". Swan: the bird of love and is associated with Venus and Cupid; also because it believed to sing sweetly when dying, it represents a good death; in Germanic mythology , being an attribute of Wotan, it is a creature of the sun, a bringer of light and life. It is the typical symbol of purity and of chance. Rare in the old samplers, it became more popular in the nineteenth century. |
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Building(s): usually represent the home, school or other
public buildings that have some important meaning in the life of the
embroiderer. Candle: a symbol of Christ: the wax is His pure flesh born of a virgin, the wick is His soul, and the light of the candle, His divinity. Candlestick: a light or burning lamp represents active devotion, watchfulness, prayer. Candlesticks (Pair): Sabbath lights (Jewish) Chair: diligence, hospitality, domesticity. Chinese pagodas: were in fashion in the eighteenth century - especially in England (Kew Gardens, 1761). Furniture and other domestic items: signify contentment, diligence, domesticity and hospitality. Menorah: the seven-branched menorah is one of the oldest and most revered symbol of Judaism. It appears both religious use and as a national symbol for the State of Israel where it is used on currency and stamps. The nine-branched menorah is used solely as a Hanukkah lamp. Mezuzah: Literally "doorpost", it is a small case containing a parchment scroll inscribed with Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. It is affixed to the doorposts of some Jewish families as a sign and reminder of their faith. Playing cards: Tarot comes first, which represent celestial strength and human life: family, friendship, love, bad luck, money, work, etc. Pothanger: symbolizes the head of the household and is called "the lord of the house" in Iceland, and le maitre du maison in France. Ship: hope, marriage, or the soul's voyage to a safe haven. Spice box (standing): Jewish symbol of Havdalah, a ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath. Table and Chairs: In Jewish symbolism are thought to be the Sabbath table. Shown on a handful of 19th Century samplers stitched by Jewish girls. Windmill: usually appears in Dutch samplers depicting country scenes. |
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Carnation: also the Pink, Dianthus - Divine Flower, or
Gilly Flower, was the Flower of Zeus, and has similar symbolic meaning to the
Rose. It comes from the Near East, and has been cultivated for two thousand
years; in its original form the carnation was flesh coloured, and its name
is derived from the Latin carnis meaning flesh. In Christian tradition,
it grew from the ground on which the Virgin Mary's tears fell on the way to
Calvary; thus the pink carnation became a symbol of maternal love. Arcaded
carnation borders were firm favourites with the old sampler makers. May also
represent poverty. Columbine: because it resembles the shape of a dove, represents the Holy Spirit. Cowslip (or Herb Peter): symbolizes the keys of St. Peter. Daisy: humility. Dianthus: See Carnation Fleur de lys: See Lily Garlands: a symbol of victory, one of roses being of the highest merit. On samplers a man and woman holding a garland between them represent marriage. Gillyflower:See Carnation Herb Peter: See Cowslip Honeysuckle: enduring faith; as a garden flower, believed to have power to avert the Evil Eye ; an popular border design on old samplers, and a firm favourite with the Tudors. It may also be a corruption of the Tree of Life pattern. Lily: purity and innocence; in Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Egyptian mythology the lily was the symbol of fertility; it may also be derived from the lotus, an Oriental symbol of fecundity. In its heraldic form, the fleur de lys is not a lily but an iris, or according to one source, "as the Lily of France ... it was once a conventional frog". The lily has religious meanings as the Flower of Heaven, and in association with the Virgin, the Madonna Lily is the symbol of purity and chastity. It may also represent the Redeemer, or the saints and the kingdom of heaven. A lily is said to have sprung up where Eve shed tears when leaving Eden, and the Madonna lily is believed to have been yellow when the Virgin stooped to pick it up. Love-in-Idleness: See Pansy Marigold: obedience; a flower of the Sun. Pansy, Wild or Trinity Violet: represents the Holy Trinity because of its sacred trefoil shape : this is also reflected in its Latin name Herba triatis. It is also known as Love-In-Idleness. A favourite with Queen Elizabeth 1st of England. Primula: two symbols: it is both youth and first love, but also the representation of premature death. They were scattered upon graves (see Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale"). According to Elizabeth Bradley, the primula protected against witches and preserved cattle from illnesses. Eating a primula, said the legend, allowed you to see fairies; and to find a primula with petals brought luck. Rose: love, beauty, joy; early pagan symbol of earthly love; the symbol of Venus, Dionysus and Bacchus. When seen with the Virgin Mary becomes the flower of divine love. Represents the blood of martyrs, and five roses on a bush represent the five wounds of Christ. A symbol of mystic vision and courtly love in the Middle Ages. The Tudor kings took the rose as their national emblem, and as the Tudor rose, It was a popular motif on samplers of that period. Trinity Violet : See Pansy Tulip: the symbol of perfect love, and a favourite on Dutch samplers, the tulip comes from Persia, where it grows wild. The original tulip designs also came from the East, the flower itself being cultivated in Turkey in the early 16th century. However they did not reach Europe until they were imported into Holland later that century. They became the height of fashion, and many a fortune was made or lost on the purchase or sale of a single bulb. Symbolically it was associated with necromancy in the middle ages, but eventually its bowl shaped flower by some strange twist of fate became the emblem of the Chalice. There is a lovely Persian legend , again about tears and flowers: a young Persian boy, Ferhad, fell in love with Shirin, but was rejected by her; he fled to the desert, where he died of a broken heart. But from the bitter tears he wept onto the desert sands, sprang forth flowers - the first tulips, known as lalé in Persia - which became the symbol of perfect love. Violet: humility, modesty , melancholy. |
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Acorns and Oak Leaves were popular designs, particularly
during patriotic periods. See also Oak Tree. Apple: symbol of love and fertility because of its beauty and sweetness; in folk law it was offered as a gift, or declaration of love. On the other hand, in Christianity it represents the Forbidden Fruit, and its Latin name malus means evil. On American samplers seven apples represent the seven deadly sins. Cherry: a fruit of Heaven. Fruit Basket: love and fertility. Grapes: represent the blood of Christ and have a strong religious significance; bunches of grapes represent Christ hanging on the cross. Also a frequent motif in Jewish art, grapes are one of the seven species of the land of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:8). One early Jewish sampler depicts a large bunch of grapes carried by the Spies from Canaan. According to Anne Sebba, this motif symbolizes the land of Israel for Jews but is also significant, with a different meaning, as a Christian icon. Pear: considered sometimes to be the more likely candidate to be the Forbidden Fruit. Pomegranate: embroidered on religious garments by the ancient Hebrews, and said to have inspired the design of Solomon's crown. As the emblem of the Christian Church it represents the hope of eternal life. In the near east it represents fertility due to its abundance of seeds. Persephone the daughter of Ceres had to spend half every year underground because she ate just one pomegranate seed whilst in Hades. A heraldic emblem in the sixteenth century, and popular on samplers of that period. In Jewish symbolism: Fertility, good deeds. Mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:8 as one of seven species of the land of Israel (the other five species are wheat, barley, figs, olives, and honey). Pomegranates are mentioned frequently in The Song of Solomon. The Hebrew word for the bells that decorate the Torah finials (rimmon) also means Pomegranate. Strawberries: perfect righteousness, being a perfect fruit with no stones or pips; the trefoil leaves give it religious significance, and the white flowers indicate innocence and purity. |
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Bee: chastity; represents diligence, industry; also personifies
the "Golden Age". Beehive: an emblem of monastic or the church community. Butterfly, moth: inconstancy, joy, playfulness, pleasure; the butterfly's life cycle also symbolizes immortality, and the resurrection of the human soul; a perennial favourite for all sampler makers. Fish: ancient Christian symbol of Baptism, depicted in an upright position. Frog: See under Lily (Fleur de lys)!! Leviathan: large sea creature, or fish, upon which the righteous will feast when the Messiah comes. (Jewish) Moth: See Butterfly Snake: reward and wickedness. Tortoise: strength and slowness; as it always carries its house with it, it serves as a reminder that a chaste woman should try to remain within the sheltering walls of her home. |
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Adam and Eve:
See Man and Woman together Boxers: these are strange little figures, usually in pairs facing each other separated by a floral emblem, and usually holding "trophies" in their hands. They may be clad or unclad, and appeared most frequently on seventeenth century samplers. Their name derives from their stance, and is of fairly recent origin. There has been much discussion on their origins, which some believe may be derived from Greek or Roman versions of Renaissance Cupids. Another theory is that they may be a corrupted version of a very old design either of two lovers exchanging gifts. or of a young girl being offered the choice of a young lover or an elderly suitor; copying from one version to another over the years may have caused the original meaning to be lost, and the girl has metamorphosed in to a large floral decoration and her lovers into the ambiguous boxers. Grape Bearers: See Spies of Canaan Man: marital fidelity; often depicted with a bird perched on his hand. Man and Woman together: often holding a garland; represent marriage. Also Adam and Eve. Mermaids: on coat-armour in heraldic terms represents vanity; closely related to the sirens of Greek mythology. Spies of Canaan (or grape bearers): represent Joshua and Caleb, spies sent into Canaan by Moses; also symbolize the Jews and Gentiles; their hanging grapes represent Christ crucified. Woman: symbol of life; often holds a palm branch. |
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Chai (18): - The Hebrew word for life is spelled with the Hebrew letters
"Chet" and "Yud" which also stand in for the numerals 8 and 10,
respectively. The number 18 is considered particularly lucky and often
charitable donations and gifts are made in multiples of 18 dollars. Colours: have special meanings in Jewish symbolism. Although blue and white are commonly used in Judaic projects, they are not mandated by tradition. Blue and white are the colors of the traditional tallit which, in turn, inspired the colors of the Israeli flag. The Bible mentions many colors, including scarlets and purples, as well as blues. In designing or adapting your own projects, choose colors that please you. Passover table linens, for example, might be inspired by the color of your dishes or the bright flower colors of spring. Crown: eternity, fidelity. Crowns and coronets were also used to denote the rank of the owner, when used to mark linen. Hamza (Hand): Jewish symmetrical hand-shaped amulet, symbolizing the protective hand of God. Heart: Divine love. Magen David: - Literally 'Shield of David', six-pointed star made of two interlocking triangles. Although a familiar symbol associated with Judaism, it is only recently that the star has been associated exclusively with Judaism. It not as religiously significant as other symbols, such as the menorah. Jews were forced to wear yellow stars on their clothing during the Holocaust. Ring or Circle: eternity. Square: a symbol of Nature; the number four may represent the four evangelists, the four major prophets, the four rivers of Paradise, the four elements, seasons or points of the compass. Shapes in General: all have similar symbolic meanings dependant on the number of their sides. Stars: the eight point star is the emblem of Bethlehem; the six point star is a Jewish symbol, and the five point star announces the birth of Christ. Tablets of the Law: In Jewish symbolism represent the Ten Commandments. |
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Fruit Tree: In Christian art, represents temptation and evil
(as an apple tree); usually shown with about fifteen apples; on American
samplers seven apples symbolize the seven deadly sins. Oak Tree: had religious significance for the Druids and was popular in English mythology; this being further promoted after Charles II hid in an oak when fleeing from the Roundheads. Used also as an Heraldic emblem. Acorns and Oak Leaves were also popular designs, particularly during patriotic periods. Olive Tree: has religious significance, and represents peace and goodwill. Tree of Knowledge: the tree in the Garden of Eden heavily laden with knowledge (in the form of apples or pears) which led to the Fall; popular with sampler makers and usually depicted with Adam on the left and Eve on the right (clad or unclad) and/or the Serpent, who if present was entwined in an anti-clockwise direction and faced Eve. The Tree of Life: depicted in many different ways through the ages: in Egypt the Gods are supposed to have lived in its branches and survived on its fruit - the "bread of life"; in other countries it stands at the eastern edge of the world where the sun rises, and may be flanked by supernatural winged figures or by goats. The Persian Tree of Life bore the seeds of all living plants; the tree was represented as being surrounded by birds which scattered its fruit. In Greek mythology the tree stood in the Garden of the Hesperides and bore the golden apples that confer immortality. According to Hindu tradition, it was the divine mother and a bearer of life: if a child has a tree planted for it after its birth the growth and progress of that tree determines that of the child. A nice motif for a birth sampler maybe. The Tree of the Universe: (Yggdrasil): a very ancient symbol of the Universe, represented by an Ash tree with its roots in the underworld and its branches reaching to the highest clouds. Weeping Willow: represents the sorrow and dejection of the bereaved. Was common on American "Mourning" samplers; but in England refers particularly to the early death of George IV's only daughter, Princess Charlotte. |
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