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From the German Sampler Museum in Celle,
Germany.
We have named this sampler after the man who
designed some of the most prominent motifs used on it: Johann Sibmacher. His
patterns appeared in Schon Neues Modelbuch, published in Nurnberg in 1597,
and subsequently in England in the 17th century as The Needle's Excellency.
Through the 19th century, his patterns reappear on samplers made on the
continent as well as in England and America. On this southern German
sampler, the stags, peacock, lamb, and some of the geometric patterning
derive from Sibmacher. Christian symbolism is often found on continental
samplers, here exemplified by the lamb and flag, or Lamb of God. Early
German samplers are not always signed, but are often simply initialed within
a cartouche. They tend to be less symmetrical- more random- than English or
American samplers, and worked primarily in cross stitch in a muted color
palette. Stitched used in this sampler are cross and counted satin. The
original sampler measures 17"x10-1/4" and was stitched with silk on a very
fine, light colored linen.
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