Schön newes Modelbuch (Page 94r) 1608

This is page 94r from the Schön newes Modelbuch, created by Sigismundus Latomus around the early 17th century. Here we see a tapestry design densely populated with geometric motifs and cross-stitch patterns. The prevalence of geometric forms—diamonds, crosses, and zigzags—echoes a symbolic language found across cultures from ancient times. Take for example the lozenge shape, which recurs throughout and can be traced back to Neolithic art, often associated with fertility and female power. Now, observe how these ancient symbols are reborn in this early modern design, adapted for domestic craft. These patterns are not merely decorative; they are carriers of cultural memory, continually reshaped by the hands that create them, a testament to the enduring human need to find order and meaning in the world through symbols.