Casgliadau Arlein

Linen, embroidered with coloured silks in darning and cross stitches. Thirty-one patterns of darning, arranged in four horizontal rows. In some cases, portions of the ground fabric have been cut out and closely darned; in others, the warp or weft has been drawn. Between some of the rows are an incomplete alphabet in a mixture of Gothic and Roman letters, numerals to 8, a monstrance flanked by two candlesticks with lighted candles, the Sacred Trigram I.H.S. beneath a crown, crowned hearts, a cradle, an anchor, and bird and floral designs – all in cross stitch. Late 18th century. (Source: Guide to the Collection of Samplers & Embroideries (Cardiff: National Museum of Wales, 1939) by F.G. Payne).