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1987-687, Sampler
Sampler by Mary Kennerly
1987-687, Sampler

Sampler by Mary Kennerly

Date1815
Artist/Maker Mary Kennerly (b. ca. 1804)
OriginAmerica, Virginia, Lynchburg
MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 27 x 27 threads per inch (Identification of fibers by binocular microscope)
DimensionsOW 16 1/8" x OH 24 3/4"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1987-687
DescriptionThis is a rectangular sampler worked in faded shades of black, blue, gold, beige, green, brown, and orange/red silk embroidery threads on a natural color linen ground. The sampler is hemmed on two sides with a 1/8" hem and has selvages at top and bottom.
The sampler consists of four uppercase alphabets (some complete, some not, one with repeated letters); three lower case alphabets (one complete, one without "j", and one with two "i"s and no "j"); one uppercase script alphabet (no "j"); and three groupings of numerals (1-4, 5-10, 1-14). Decorative bands, one of which is a wave motif, divide alphabets and numerals. A group of ligatures appears on the left side, one third down the sampler.
The signature line in the upper middle of the sampler reads: "Mary Kennerly. wrought this [s]ampler at Lynchburg in the [1]2 [year]/ of her age. A.D. 1815." Below this is the inscription "J. Kennerl[y]" followed by a double heart motif and remnants of "n n e l" and "y" for what appears to have been "Kennerly." Below this are the letters "SKMKP" and a large decorative area of Irish stitch.
A partial verse two thirds down the sampler reads: "[Whe]n nat[ure fails, and day and night Divide Thy wo]rks no more/My ever gra[tef]ul hear O Lord Thy mercy shall adore."
The bottom third of the sampler consists of a two-story house with a gated fence, four potted plants; two birds in a double cage; two flowering vines, a two-story house (church) with tree; a decorative triangle of queen stitches; and the letters "TP."
A simple undulating inner border and an outer border of hemstitch encloses the sampler at top and sides.

Stitches: back, cross (Z on reverse, over 1 and 2), eyelet, flat, four-sided, hem, Irish, queen, satin, tent

Threads: Two-ply single and two-ply double
Label TextMary Kennerly's sampler marked "Lynchburg" is the earliest of a group of samplers worked in Lynchburg, Virginia, between 1815 and 1833, and later in Tennessee. Mary's younger sister Susannah worked an almost identical sampler in 1819. The sisters were the daughters of Joseph and Sally Christian Kennerly. Joseph Kennerly owned a tobacco warehouse and land across the James River from Lynchburg in Amherst County.
Inscribed"J. Kennerl[y]"
"SKMKP"
"T P"
"[Whe]n nat[ure fails, and day and night Divide Thy wo]rks no more/
My ever gra[tef]ul hear O Lord Thy mercy shall adore"
MarkingsSee inscriptions.
ProvenancePurchased by CWF from a Lynchburg, VA antiques dealer. No further provenance is known.

History of sampler maker:

Mary Kennerly was the daughter of Joseph and Sally Christian Kennerly of Amherst and Patrick Counties, Virginia. According to Amelia H. Scott in TALES OF THE TERRELLS, Joseph Kennerly owned a tobacco warehouse and land across the James River in Madison Heights on the site of the present Lynchburg Training School and Hospital. The LYNCHBURG PRESS & PUBLIC ADVERTISER posted on January 7, 1819, the marriage of Miss Mary Kennerly, daughter of Joseph Kennerly of Patrick County, to Thomas Penn, esq., also of Patrick County.