Sampler by Martha J. Cosby

Date1844 (dated)

Maker Martha J. Cosby (1832-1883)

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Orange County (probably), "Eastern View"

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a cotton ground of 31 x 30 threads per inch with cotton hemming thread; in wooden frame with metal hanging mechanism

DimensionsOH: 20" × OW: 18 3/4" (50.8 × 47.6cm)

Credit LineGift of Cindy B. Halliday in memory of Ann Bisco Johnson Behm

Object number2021-185

DescriptionThis is an almost square needlework sampler worked in shades of faded pink/red, blue, brown, green, tan/cream, gold, and green silk embroidery threads on a cotton ground. The sampler is in a wooden frame with an original metal hanging mechanism. The top quadrant of the sampler consists of: "A-Z" upper cases block and "1-9" in cross stitch; band of double cross; "a-z" lowercase and "10-19" in cross stitch; band of cross stitch; "A-Q" uppercase block in double cross stitch; band of wave motif in cross stitch; "A-Q" uppercase block in eyelet stitch; and band of cross stitch.
The second quadrant consists of the signature line: "Martha J. Cosby commenced and completed this sampler/ with Mrs. Lucy M. Montague in the year 1844. Eastern View"; sawtooth band; and the verse: "Religion should our thoughts engage, / Amidst our youthful boom; Twill fit us for declining age / And for the awful tomb. / More needful this than glittering wealth / or aught the world bestows / Not reputation food or health can give us such repose."
The third quadrant consists of a two-story house with two chimneys, and five windows, three of which are open. There are small flowering bushes in front of the two windows that flank the front door and a flowering vine growing up the left chimney. The house is flanked by small trees and four large evergreens. A small out building is between the evergreen trees on the right side and a small brown dog is chained to the far right tree. The place name "Poplar Grove" is stitched between the two large evergreen trees on right. A gold bird is perched atop the far left evergreen tree and another bird flies towards the house.
The last quadrant of the sampler consists of two baskets of flowers and the following names: "William S Cosby/ Luvina [sic] R Cosby / Ann E Cosby / Sara E Cosby / Joseph W Cosby / Williams J Cosby / Charles E Cosby / Mary E Cosby / Charles Cosby / Sarah Cosby / Jane R Smith / Martha A Harris / Susan A Wharton / Parmella [sic] Glass / Fanny T Crutchfield / Samuel W Wharton / Lutecia Wharton / Ann Cole / Elizabeth Simco [sic] / Mary Lancaster / Sarah Wharton / Huldah Lancaster."
The sampler is enclosed on all four sides in an undulating vine and bud border.
Stitches: buttonhole, chain, cross over two; double cross, eyelet, outline, satin
Label TextMartha J. Cosby's sampler belongs to a remarkable group of Piedmont Virginia samplers referred to as the "open window" samplers. The most noticeable characteristics of the embroideries are a register of family names and houses with open windows. Martha marked her sampler with the inscription "Martha J. Cosby commenced and completed this sampler/ with Mrs. Lucy M. Montague in the year 1844. Eastern View".
Inscribed"Religion should our thoughts engage, / Amidst our youthful boom; Twill fit us for declining age / And for the awful tomb. / More needful this than glittering wealth / or aught the world bestows / Not reputation food or health can give us such repose."
"Poplar Grove"
"William S Cosby/ Luvina [sic] R Cosby / Ann E Cosby / Sara E Cosby / Joseph W Cosby / Williams J Cosby / Charles E Cosby / Mary E Cosby / Charles Cosby / Sarah Cosby / Jane R Smith / Martha A Harris / Susan A Wharton / Parmella [sic] Glass / Fanny T Crutchfield / Samuel W Wharton / Lutecia Wharton / Ann Cole / Elizabeth Simco [sic] / Mary Lancaster / Sarah Wharton / Huldah Lancaster."
ProvenanceThe sampler descended from the maker, Martha J. Cosby Wright (1832-1883) , to her daughter, Emma Letitia Wright Biscoe (1865-1951), to her daughter, Mamie Lee Biscoe Johnson (1894-1946), to her daughter, Ann Biscoe Johnson Behm (b. 1925), to her daughter, Cindy B. Halliday, who donated the sampler to the museum.