Description:

The most wonderful element of this sampler is the triple undulating flower pattern - one we had never seen before. Agness placed a four petaled flower in each corner and please note how precise the corners are. The interior of the sampler is also quite originally designed, starting an undulating band of flowers across the top. The upright tulips and upside-down square flowers are geometrically stylized and highlight the border wonderfully. The little rosebuds added to the upright band fill space, but make us wonder if Agness hoped to fill the area with more floral motifs. Matching squares left and right contain a crown and her parents names, and of course flank a delicate, geometric floral cartouche with her verse and her signature. This middle "band" is completed with elaborate floral motifs.

It is always interesting when a samplermaker puts her parents full names or includes another name. In this case Agness stitched "Joanna Gilchrist". Somewhat concerned about the viabiity of the name, we were surprised to come up with two possibilities. One Joanna was born in 1775 in Urquhart and Logie Wester, but this town is in the very North of Scotland and the date would make her the teacher. The second Joanna was born in Glasgow in 1797 and would make her a contemporary of Agness'. There is no way to know the answer of which girl it is, but we lean towards the teacher reference.

The bottom of the sampler has a variation on the pedimented house with a fenced yard, and while it does have the traditional blue slate roof, the walls of the house are a rich yellow. Blonde sandstone is a common building element in Glasgow, further supporting our genealogical research. Agness flanked the house with peacocks and trees, rounding out the section.

Size (W x H): 13 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches

Stitches: Cross, cross-over-one, satin, running back, herringbone, half-cross

Media: Silk on wool

Genealogy:

John McCulloch married Barbra Urquhart 5 May 1780 in Glasgow. Creative spelling of both names led us on a merry search, but we have located at least John (1781), Barbara (1783), James (1784), Barbara #2 (1785) Thomas (1787), William (1789), John #2 (1791) and Agness (1792).

Verse:

PROV CHAP XXXI V 30 31

FAVOUR IS DECEITFUL AND BEAUTY
IS VAIN BUT A WOMAN THAT FEAR-
ETH THE LORD SHE SHALL BE
PRAISED GIVE HER OF THE FRUIT
OF HER HANDS AND LET HER OWN
WORKS PRAISE HER IN THE GATES

AGNESS M CULLOCHS SAMPLER
JOANNA MARCH 1808 GILCHRIST