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Embroidered Hand Towel by Sarah Weaver

Date1854 (dated)

Maker Sarah Weaver (1839-1918 (later Mrs. James William Sharps))

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Rockingham County

MediumCotton and silk embroidery threads on a linen weft and cotton warp ground with cotton fringe and cotton tapes

DimensionsOH: 49 ¼” x OW: 17 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2016.610.1

DescriptionThis is a linen and cotton hand towel embroidered in cotton and silk threads in red, black, brown, blue, white, and green. Some of the weft linen threads are brown in color creating a striation effect in the ground fabric. It is hemmed at sides in a 3/8”-1/4” hem and has a self-fringe at top (1/2") and an applied cotton fringe at bottom. The top portion of the towel is folded to the front of the towel (4 1/2") and there are stitched cotton tape loops (1" each) at each top corner for hanging the towel. The top folded section contains five tree-like motifs alternating in red and green with a green inner border with a red outer border. Below this is the date “1854”; three tree-like motifs with the center one flanked by hearts; “Sarah Weaver”; “S W” “E W”; “J W” “F W” “M W” “A W”; “F W” “S W” “E W” “J W”; “F W” “D W” “S W”. The middle portion of the towel is blank. The bottom portion of the towel contains simple bands of stitches and one row of pulled work. A seven-inch applied knotted cotton fringe is at the bottom.

Stitches: chain-like stitches, cross, drawn hem, herringbone, pattern running stiches
Label TextThis rare embroidered hand towel created in 1854 by Sarah Weaver of Rockingham County, Virginia, is one of only four identified from Virginia's Backcountry. Embroidered hand towels, often called show towels, reflect the Pennsylvania-German aesthetic--an aesthetic that traveled down the Great Valley Road from Pennsylvania into Virginia's Valley during the second half of the eighteenth century and into the nineteenth century.

The custom for young, unmarried women to decorate hand towels with embroidery was common in both Germany and Pennsylvania, especially in Mennonite families. Making a hand towel was part of mastering sewing skills and developing self-control--important lessons for young women who were soon to become wives, housekeepers, and mothers. More often they were made in anticipation of marriage as part of the household linens required to set up housekeeping. Intended to beautify a home rather than for actual use, decorated hand towels were usually hung for display.

Sarah Weaver signed, dated, and initialed her embroidered hand towel at the top in red and green stitches. The thirteen sets of initials represent her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Weaver, her ten older siblings, and herself. The bottom of the towel consists of seven inches of a knotted applied fringe.
ProvenanceThe embroidered hand towel descended in the family of the maker, Sarah Weaver Sharps, to her third child, Elizabeth (Betty) F. Sharpes (1872-1958), to her oldest daughter Mary A. Thompson, and eventually to the auction house where the towel was purchased in the sale, "31st Semi-Annual Americana & Fine Antiques Auction, Spotlighting Virginia & the South", November 12, 2016.

History of Maker:
Sarah Weaver, born February 3, 1839, was the eleventh child of Samuel Weaver (1790-1857) and Elizabeth Rhodes Weaver (1792-1875) of Rockingham County, Virginia. In 1854, she created a hand towel on which she included the initials of her parents and all ten of her siblings. Sarah also created at least three cut valentines that survive. In 1866, she married James William Sharpes (1843-1916) in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and they made their home in Rockingham County. They had five children: Jacob Samuel (1867-1958); John Frederick (1870-1931); Elizabeth (Betty) Frances (1872-1958); William Andrew (1873-1952); and Mary M. Sharpes (1879-1959). Sarah died on November 9, 1918.