Oldest Sampler???

As often as we hear about the Jane Bostocke antique sampler, we might wonder about earlier examples of sampler needlework.

Are you aware of the Peruvian sampler that is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York? This sampler is dated to the 2nd century BCE. This sampler shares designs of unusual animals, geometric art, and other figures worked in an array of directions with cotton on camelid ground. Camelid is the family of animals that includes alpaca and llamas. These animals and their fur are found easily in Peru. This sampler measures approximately 28.5" x 42". This wonderul historical needlework is from the Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection (bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979).

To see this photo of this sampler, go the Metropolitan Museum of Art .