Sampler (2005.48)

Architectural and pictorial sampler, silk thread on linen ground. In the lower half is a two-story brick house with five paned windows and a door with a paned transom, and two chimneys, with a stepped fence on either side. in the final section of the gate on each side near the border are arched gates; in the corner of each fence section is a pine tree.

Numerous motifs are placed beside and above the house. Flanking the house are roses in a larger scale than the architectural scene, placed as if growing beside the house. A larger stylized pine tree and a two-handled vase with stylized flowers are placed on either side of the rose bushes. Beside the roof is a bird surrounded by a vine. Above these is a row of five floral motifs: a strawberry plant in a vase, a basket of flowers, initials within a floral wreath, another flower basket, and a flowering plant.

In the upper fourth is a verse couplet followed by the maker's name and date, with an octagonal cartouche at the right enclosing a pair of birds and the inscription "An Emblem of Love." The sampler is bordered by a meandering strawberry vine.

Provenance Narrative
This sampler is distinguished by many Quaker motifs, particularly the "Emblem of Love" cartouche at the top. The maker came from a Quaker family. Louisa Martha Vanlaw, the daughter of John and Sarah Sharp Vanlaw, was born April 22, 1818 in Belmont County, Ohio. She was a member of the Stillwater Monthly Friends Meeting. The Stillwater Meeting House was built in 1804 in Barnesville, Belmont County in 1804 and the Meeting is still active today.

Louisa married James Doudna of Chesterfield, Ohio in 1843. She died in 1898. Substantial genealogical data is in the file.

The sampler remained with family descendants until at least mid-20th century. This sampler passed to Erma Doudna Stone, great granddaughter of the maker, then to Erma May Derby Waidder, great, great niece of maker. It was then acquired by a dealer and was eventually purchased by the DAR Museum. It was published in OHIO IS MY DWELLING PLACE by Sue Studebaker, 2002.

Quaker motifs that dominate the ground. A continuing serpentine vine with tiny leaves alternating with small berries provides the four borders. At the top a two line inscription admonishes, "Count that day lost whose low descending sun/ Views from thy hand no worthy actions done." Beside it at right is an octagonal medallion enclosing the familiar Quaker "An Emblem of Love" symbol of paired birds. A beautiful leafy cartouche is centered below the maker's signature and date, and flanked by baskets of stylized flowers. The following initials are inscribed in the central wreath cartouche in four lines:

" RS / MRC / MVF / SV " The central architectural feature is a two-story brick house with five paned windows. An unusual "stepped" fence stretches on either side and terminates in unusual arched gates. Precise evergreen trees accent the fence line and one slender evergreen tree stitched in geometrical fashion rises above the fence on the left. Roses and other floral images complete this multi-faceted composition.

Place Made
United States OHIO Belmont County

Signatures/Marks
Count that day lost whose low descending sun
Views from thy hand no worthy actions done
Louisa Martha Vanlaw's Sampler 1834
An Emblem of Love
RS
MRC
MVF
SV