Threading a room with the past

Southern Living, Apr 1999 by Jernigan, Sarah

When decorating, looking to the past can be a fresh way to begin. Lucius Lamar was inspired by the rich colors from his mother's antique samplers to create this cozy bedroom in her house.

"Mom's been collecting these samplers for years," says Lucius, a native of Oxford, Mississippi, who's now an interior designer on the West Coast. "After my sister married, her collection of antique dolls, pillows, and bed linens remained in her room," said Lucius. "Recently we rearranged a little and repainted the walls. I thought this was the perfect place to hang the samplers because they're so colorful and they coordinate with the antiques."

Lucius meticulously arranged them by content and color to unify the room. "I always draw a room to scale first, then use small cutouts of each frame [scaled to the frame size] and arrange them until I find the perfect balance."

His extra effort works. The samplers are displayed so that each one has its own presence. As a result, any guest of the Lamars gets a lovely place to spend the night-and a chance to appreciate the handwork of others. Sarah Jernigan Antique samplers are a special art form, actually a recording of history done in needlework. Referred to as "schoolgirl needle art," they're as popular as folk art.

Beautiful scenes, poems, and pictorial images are found in samplers, although most early ones consist mainly of the alphabet and the stitcher's name and date. For girls and women of the time, it was an opportunity to express themselves, with many samplers revealing scenes from their lives.

As a general rule, samplers made before the Civil War tend to be the most expensive. But to many collectors, the image or tale depicted on the canvas is what's truly valuable, especially if the sampler is a family heirloom. o

COLLECTING AND CONSERVING

Phyllis Hoffman, who's a Birmingham collector and specialist in needlework, has some tips for selecting, framing, and keeping your samplers in top-notch shape. Follow her suggestions. * Be critical of the sampler's condition. Ask about its origin and authenticity; counterfeits do exist-be wary.

* Check the color value of the threads. Expect some discoloration; age will naturally cause fading, as will creasing if the piece has ever been stored folded. Be careful that the piece has not been tampered with; some are known to have been color enhanced.

* If a sampler is purchased unframed, be certain to preserve it in acid-free tissue paper as soon as possible.

* A sampler purchased in its original frame is very desirable. If it's necessary to reframe, make sure the piece doesn't touch the glass.

* Samplers should not be stretched, taped, or nailed down. Spacers should be used to keep the piece off the glass, and the frame should be reasonably airtight.

* If necessary, consult your local museum or historical society for names of professionals in your area who are familiar with conserving needlework.

* Do not hang the piece in direct sunlight; the sun will bleach and fade the colors.