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Maryville, East Tennessee Schoolgirl Needlework Sampler, stitched by Sarah E. Warren in 1838. Silk on linen, featuring an unusual and time consuming Queen’s-stitched sawtooth outer border and a strawberry embroidered interior border. Seven lines of alphabets and numbers are divided by decorative bands rendered in cross, cross over one, eyelet and queen stitches, over a verse and signature identifying both the stitcher and her teacher: “Sarah E. Warren Under the care of Mrs. Sarah J. Sketchley. Aged 10 years. July the 27th 1838.” Housed under glass in a mahogany frame. Sight: 19 1/2 in H x 20 1/2 in. W. Frame: 21 5/8 in. H x 22 5/8 in. W. Ref. Core and Hasson, TENNESSEE SAMPLERS: FEMALE EDUCATION AND DOMESTIC ARTS, 1800-1900, pp. 175-176. According to the Tennessee Sampler Survey, Mrs. Sarah J. Sketchley taught at the Young Ladies Finishing School in Maryville, Blount County. Her pupil, Sarah Elizabeth Warren (1827-1900) was the oldest of seven children born to Barton Leonidas Warren and Evaline Singleton. The family lived to the east of Louisville, Blount Co., where her father owned a large tannery and leather business. Mr. Warren was considered the richest man in Blount County. Sarah married William McClung Steele in 1853. Sarah’s husband owned a wholesale stock business, Steele & Bros., in Maryville. The couple lived on a farm in nearby Louisville. They had two sons and one daughter, all of whom were long-lived. Sarah died in 1900 and is buried in the Magnolia Cemetery in Maryville, Blount County. A packet of genealogical data including on the teacher, Ms. Sketchley, accompanies this sampler, along with a couple of old family notes. One additionally states that Louisa Hill was the cousin of Confederate General A.P. Hill.
PROVENANCE:
Private Tennessee collection, ex-Jeffery Evans Auction.
CONDITION:
Overall very good condition. There is some minor dark staining to the lower right edge, darkening to ground, and fading to some colors, but the ground and thread remain intact. Not examined out of frame.
