Slightly rectangular sampler embroidered in various alphabets and motifs. The work is composed of a white plain-woven ground (probably linen or other cloth made from a bast fiber), embroidered in multicolored silk and cotton threads including, rose, green, gray, pink, blue-green, puprle, red, white, yellow, flesh or beige, yellow-green, brown, and black. The upper half of the sampler is divided into nine bands including 5 alphabets, a row of numbers, floral and fauna, meanders, a Grecian key motif, and a scroll motif: Band 1: A 7/16" Roman (block), upper case alphabet "ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRSTUVXZ" [No J, W, Y] worked in green and gray threads using eyelet stitches (over 4) Band 2: A 3/8" upper case Gothic(?) alphabet "ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRSTU" [No J] worked in pink, blue-green threads in cross stitches (over 2) Band 3: A continuation of band 2 with flower motif, "VXZ" [No W or Y] worked in pink and blue-green with floral motifs in green, blue, purple, gray, pink cross stitch (over 2 threads). Note: "Z" is larger-8/16 or 1/2"; flowers are 11/16" Band 4: A 7/16 to 11/165" upper case Script alphbet. "ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRSTU [No J] worked in rose, gray, Italian square ground stitch Band 5: A continuation of band 4 with upper case 6/16" (3/8") letters "VXZ" [ No W or Y] worked in Italian square ground stitch in rose and gray, 8/16or 1/2" floral design on either side in green, and purple cross stitch Band 6: An 5/16" upper case alphabet "ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRSTUVXZ" [No J or W or Y] worked in red and gray in Italian square ground stitch. Floral band at end of row 7/16" in cross stitches. Band 7: Lower case Script letters 3/8" to 1/2", letters "abcdefghiklmnopqrstuvxyz" [No j or w; note: there is a y in this row, which is inconsistent with other alphabets] worked in green and purple cross stitches; small fret and wave designs at end Band 8: A row of numbers including 1 to 0 worked in green, and gray cross stitch; ribbon scroll at end Band 9 A band approximately 1-1/2" wide including the name of the embroiderer, beginning with a crown surmounted by a cross under which are initials--probably an A superimposed over a V in cross stitch, then continuing with name "Nicolina Volpini" in upper and lower case worked in eyelet stitch, the first letters in dark red, the remaining letters in dark blue; finishing band with initials "IHS" [see remarks] with cross at the end of the motif. Lettering is 3/4" high--largest on sampler. Below these bands, the bottom 6-1/2" of sampler is worked in spot motifs including: -On left side: A castle or series of buildings with a tower worked in multicolored rose, pinks, purples, yellow, green, white--all cross stitches -On lower left side: A house worked in brown, yellow, green and dark pink threads -At center: A large yellow bird with flowers or stylized bush and small grey dog in landscape, all worked in multicolors, including green, rose, pink, purple. -Left side interior: An oval flower wreath with initials "C.V." inside, worked in cross stitches and multi colors of red, pink, purple, yellow, green, blue Lower left interior: A vase of flowers with birds in multiple colors, including black Right outside: Three birds of different size in green and gold threads Right interior: 2 birds, one large and one small, with yellow breasts, purple wings, white heads, and black details, brown legs Lower right: A vase with flowers in multiple colors and another very small basket Interior lower right : A basket of flowers with small heart and cross at center Center bottom: A geometric design worked in purple threads Lower center bottom: A narrow geometric design worked in bluish green threads Lower right corner: Semi circular lines in an unfinished motif. The ground fabric is close woven with 48 warps/wefts per inch. All edges are turned under and hemmed. The inside edge of the hem is finished with drawnthread work and hem stitching.