Images(10)

Sampler by Sarah Bruce Butt

Date1811

Artist/Maker Sarah Bruce Butt (b. March 20, 1798)

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Isle of Wight County

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 27 x 35 threads per inch

DimensionsOH: 24 1/4" x OW: 16 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1989-34

DescriptionThis is a rectangular needlework sampler worked in shades of blue, green, pink, red, orange, brown, yellow, gold, and ivory on a natural color linen ground. Sampler is hemmed on all four sides with a 1/4" hem. From the top the sampler consists of:
Three decorative bands worked in cross stitch
"Sarah B Butts Work June 18 1811" followed by a decorative square of double cross stitch and "F Butt"
Band worked in cross stitch
"A-Z" (no "J"), upper case; "MB" CB", worked in cross stitch
Band in cross stitch
"a-z" (no "j"), lower case; "1-9" worked in cross stitch
Vine and flower band, worked in four-sided stitch
"A-P" (no "J") upper case script, worked in cross stitch
Decorative band worked in double cross and cross stitch
"R-Z" upper case script; "NFB" LBB" worked in cross stitch
Band worked in double cross stitch
"A-P" (no "J") upper case worked in double cross stitch
Decorative band worked in eyelet stitch
"Q-Z" upper case; "AB" worked in eyelet stitch followed by a decorative square of double cross
Band of cross stitch
A band of queen stitch encloses the signature line: "Sarah Bruce Butt Daughter of Nathaniel/ And Frances Butt was born March 20" worked in cross stitch
The bottom half of sampler consists of a large 2 1/2-story, diaper-patterned brick house with three projecting pedimented pavilions and a central balcony. Two baskets of flowers flank the house with the letters "FCB" and "RBB" beneath them. To the left of the roof are the letters: "MSB" "IB"/ "LB" "ALB"/ "INB" "NB". To the right of the roof are the letters "MF" "AW"/ "FE" "NW"/ "AEW."
Below the house is a central octagonal motif with an enclosed bird and vine; eight floral motifs; and the letters: "HEH" "WB" "EH" "CB" "SI" "MS" "NE" "CGH" "SBB" "IS" "SAB" "MB" "EB". At the bottom of the sampler is a fence and gate.
Sampler is enclosed on all four sides with a simple border of hem stitch.

Stitches: cross, double cross, eyelet, four-sided, hem, marking cross, and queen

Label TextSarah Bruce Butt's sampler belongs to a group of samplers from the south side of the James River. The samplers are characterized by Quaker motifs and identical alphabets. Some have pieced ground fabrics. Features carried over from the eighteenth century and seen on these samplers are the use of Irish stitches or areas worked to resemble Irish stitch and extremely neat backs with large areas worked in reversible stitches.
Sarah's sampler clearly shows Quaker influences in the octagonal medallion enclosing a bird and vine, and the baskets and sprays of flowers. Not indicative of Quaker embroideries, however, are the large bands worked in cross stitch to resemble Irish stitch at the top of Sarah's work. Sarah was the daughter of Nathaniel and Frances Butt of Lower Norfolk County, Virginia.

A group of 7 samplers were worked under the tuition of Elizabeth Cowling Eley Moody (ca. 1780-1814) of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Widowed in 1805, Elizabeth taught needlework and took in student boarders to support herself and three young daughters. She continued teaching until her marriage to Ishmael Moody in 1811. Samplers worked under her instruction are characterized by Quaker motifs such as floral sprigs, baskets, and octagonal medallions. They share the same distinct script alphabet and some have pieced grounds. Features carried over from the 18th century include the use of Irish stitches or areas worked to resemble Irish stitch and extremely neat backsides with large areas worked in reversible stitches. All 7 sampler makers had lost their fathers by the time they created samplers and would have been considered orphans by the state.

Inscribed"Sarah B Butts Work June 18 1811"
"F Butt"
"MB" CB"
"NFB" LBB"
"AB"
"Sarah Bruce Butt Daughter of Nathaniel/ And Frances Butt was born March 20"
"FCB" and "RBB"
"MSB" "IB"/ "LB" "ALB"/ "INB" "NB"
"MF" "AW"/ "FE" "NW"/ "AEW"
"HEH" "WB" "EH" "CB" "SI" "MS" "NE" "CGH" "SBB" "IS" "SAB" "MB" "EB"
Markings"Sarah B Butts Work June 18 1811"
"F Butt"
"MB" CB"
"NFB" LBB"
"AB"
"Sarah Bruce Butt Daughter of Nathaniel/ And Frances Butt was born March 20"
"FCB" and "RBB"
"MSB" "IB"/ "LB" "ALB"/ "INB" "NB"
"MF" "AW"/ "FE" "NW"/ "AEW"
"HEH" "WB" "EH" "CB" "SI" "MS" "NE" "CGH" "SBB" "IS" "SAB" "MB" "EB"
ProvenanceSarah Bruce Butt was the daughter of Nathaniel Butt (d. 1804) and Frances Butt (daughter of Horatio and Frances Butt). Sarah married Henry Moore of Edenton, North Carolina in 1825. Their son was Nathaniel Henry Moore. His daughter, Sarah Frances Bruce Butt Moore married James Potts Williams and their son was Harold Bruce Butt Williams. He married Mary Martha Henbold Burgess Bell and their two children were Henrietta Frances and James Robert Bruce Butt Williams (b. 1927), the latter being the previous owner of this sampler and their great-great-grandson of Sarah Bruce Butt.