Cleveland Museum of Art

Embroidery sampler (chelliga/shelliga)

Date

c. 1700s

Medium

Cotton, silk, dye

Culture

Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Moroccan embroiderer

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

These detailed samplers demonstrate the artist's technical range. Here, floral designs, protective open-palm hand motifs ( khamsa ) and various patterns are embroidered using double-running stitches, straight stitches, and long-armed cross stitches with dyed silk thread. Young women from all social classes would learn these skills from a master craftswoman ( mu'allima ), who taught within her home. Upon completing their training, professionally-trained young women would produce a sampler as a "diploma" testifying to their embroidery skills.

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