Sampler by Sarah H. Buckner

Date1834

Artist/Maker Sarah H. Buckner (b. 1823)

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Spotsylvania County

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 29 x 31 threads per inch (fiber identification by textile lab)

DimensionsOH 19 6/8 x OW 17 2/8

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1984-10

DescriptionThis is a rectangular sampler worked in shades of ivory, green, blue, red, gold, orange, and yellow on a natural color linen ground. The sampler has selvages at sides and hems at top and bottom. The top third of the sampler consists of:
"A-O" uppercase block worked in eyelet stitch
Greek key band worked in cross stitch
"P-Z" uppercase block worked in eyelet stitch; "SHB." worked in cross stitch
Band of half diamond worked in cross stitch
"A-Z." uppercase block, followed by a heart motif, all worked in cross stitch
Band of double row of cross stitch
"a-I”, “k-z." lower case block, "1-10." "1834." all worked in cross stitch
Decorative band in cross stitch
The center section of the sampler consists of the signature line, verses, and alphabets:
"Sarah H. Buckner was born [Febru]ary the 1[9]th 1823." followed by a heart motif worked in cross stitch
Decorative band of cross stitch
"Remember thy Creator in the days of thy Youth E.B." worked in cross stitch
Band of queen stitch
"Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bad things" worked in cross stitch
Decorative band of cross stitch
"A-P" uppercase script worked in cross stitch
Wave band worked in cross stitch
"Q-Z" uppercase script; "We should be daily [?]" worked in cross stitch
Band of herringbone stitch
Diamond band worked in satin stitch
The bottom third of the sampler consists of a cross-stitched house in center, flanked by two floral designs--the one to the right of the house appears to be unfinished. The house is symmetrical, Georgian in style; fenestration of house front; six over four windows with chimney on each end of house. The house is surrounded by vegetation worked in green thread. There is a fence with a gate and a yard in front of the house and unfinished vegetation behind it. A queen-stitch band lies below house.
At the base of the sampler is a large border of strawberry vine with green leaves and red berries. The sampler is enclosed at top and sides with a smaller vine and berry border.

Stitches: cross, eyelet, herringbone, queen and satin
Label TextSarah H. Buckner was the daughter of Colonel Richard Buckner of Spotsylvania County. It's likely that Sarah created her sampler at one of the several girls' schools that advertised in Fredericksburg, Virginia in the 1830s.
Inscribed"1834."
"Remember thy Creator in the days of thy Youth E.B."
"Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bad things"
"We should be daily [?]"
MarkingsA typed label attached to the back of the sampler frame when Sumpter T. Priddy acquire it read: "Sampler acquired from Mrs. Letty Spindle of/ Norfolk./ ORIGIN: Sampler made in 1834 by young/ girl from Spindle Family of Spotsylvania/ County./ Spindle Farm burned during Civil War by/ Yankees. Girl sent to New Orleans to live/ with Uncle."
ProvenanceA typed label attached to the back of the sampler frame when the former owner acquired it read: "Sampler acquired from Mrs. Letty Spindle of/ Norfolk./ ORIGIN: Sampler made in 1834 by young/ girl from Spindle Family of Spotsylvania/ County./ Spindle Farm burned during Civil War by/ Yankees. Girl sent to New Orleans to live/ with Uncle."
The sampler descended from the maker to her son, Richard Buckner Spindle, to his son, Richard Buckner Spindle, Jr, to Mrs. Letty Spindle of Norfolk (wife of Richard Buckner, Jr.) before it was purchased by former owner.

History of Maker:
Sarah H. Buckner was the daughter of Col. Richard Buckner of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. (SPOTTSYLVANIA WILL BOOK R. 1843-36, p. 94).In 1843, Sarah's father bequeathed to her an enslaved girl named Eliza, the daughter of a woman named Lucy who the family had also enslaved. On November 16, 1853, Sarah married Benjamin Spindle in Spotsylvania County. Together they had at least one child, Richard B. Spindle, who was born about 1855.