Middle Tennessee needlework sampler, silk on linen, signed “H.D. Bryant’s Work”, with house, tree, and basket or urn motifs. Attributed to Maury County (Culleoka), circa 1835. Wide lily or tulip and geometric outer border and an inner chain of diamond border, enclosing upper and lower case cross-stitched alphabets (lacking lower case d) and numerals, over the signature line which is executed in four-sided stitch. Dividing bands are stitched in geometric and floral motifs in cross, back, chain, and queen stitches. The lower half of the sampler is devoted to large figural motifs of a two-story house, tree with two birds, and a basket of fruit or flowers. This highly decorative sampler, worked in tones of blue, dark and light green, white and beige/gold, is similar to other Middle Tennessee samplers classified by the Tennessee Sampler Survey as the “Cartouche, Wreath and Vase Group” (see the Mary Elizabeth Collins sampler sold by this auction house in Dec. 2008). Provenance: according to the Tennessee Sampler Survey, which has documented this sampler, it was made by Harriet Daniel Bryant. Harriet was born in North Carolina to Edward Bryant and his second wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Amis. Sometime between 1818 and 1823 the family moved to the Culleoka area of Maury Co. where the sampler was made. Harriet married Archelous White in Maury County in 1841 and they had nine children. It descended in her family to the present consignor. Older but not original giltwood frame. Sight: 17″H x 17-1/2″W. Framed: 19″ H x 19-1/2″W. Condition: Overall very good condition with some light fading and discoloration but no thread or ground loss. Sampler is currently framed with an acidic background but is not glued down. The blue thread in the outer border does not continue through the lower right corner but there is no indication of thread loss. Later frame but possibly original glass.