New Modelbüch (Page 35r) 1615

This embroidery pattern, created by Andreas Bretschneider, showcases motifs prevalent throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Here, we find birds nestled amidst lush foliage and ornate vases. Birds, throughout art history, often symbolize the soul's journey or divine messengers, while flowers are a classical symbol of beauty and ephemeral existence. Vases, vessels, and other containers represent the body or the maternal, their presence indicative of a life-giving force. Think of Botticelli's Venus emerging from a shell, another vessel of life and beauty. Observe how these symbols, these potent reminders of life, death, and spirituality, are echoed in the subconscious expressions of humanity across the ages, each iteration colored by the unique historical moment. This composition evokes a feeling of harmony and abundance, drawing us in on a deeply felt, almost primal level. Notice how this non-linear progression of symbols resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings throughout time.