From the German Sampler Museum in Celle, Germany.

The Scarlet Letter 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 initialled 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 colour 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 coloured linen.

Origin and date: Southern Germany, 1763

Linen count/finished size: 35 or 40 count, 13-1/2"x22" or 11-1/2x18" (please specify). Kit contains fabric, silk or cotton thread, needle and instructions.

Source: The German Sampler Museum