Anna and I we’re both instantly attracted to Fraktur inspired cross stitch patterns and started a sister SAL to stitch Frederick and Frederika by Carriage House Samplings. Fraktur was a new word for both of us and we were curious to learn more. This blog post summarizes our findings, which we discussed in FlossTube #2 starting at 34:15.
History
In the modern world we’re used to letters being formed with perfectly rounded curves. But back in the day when scribes were copying manuscripts with quill and ink it was impossible to consistently create rounded letters. Instead they used short straight lines to give the illusion of curves resulting in letters that were fragmented. This calligraphy style was developed in the 1100s in France and within a couple centuries became the standard across Europe. The general name for this type of writing is called “Blackletter”. The German variation of blackletter starting in the 15th century is called “Fraktur”, which comes from the Latin word for broken. For me, I think of this as an excellent example of form follows function – the shape of the letters was dictated by the tools and technology available for reproducing written text.
So how in the world do we get from straight lined, broken letters to quirky colorful birds? We can thank the Pennsylvania Dutch for that! The Pennsylvania Dutch were German speaking immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania, starting in the late 1600s, bringing their German culture and writing style – Fraktur – with them. For their personal records, such as birth and baptismal certificates they combined calligraphy with lively and colorful decorative motifs – typically angels, birds, hearts, flowers, such as tulips, and a few mythical creatures such as unicorns. These decorative and whimsical design motifs can also be found in their drawings and on their furniture, such as chests and “clothes presses” (wardrobes). The Pennsylvania Fraktur folk art style was at its height in the hundred years between 1740 and 1850.
Cross Stitch Designs
A quick Google Image Search for Fraktur inspired cross stitch designs will reveal a variety of designs. Here is a sampling of four of these.
Here is a list of Fraktur inspired patterns. Do you have a Fraktur pattern suggestions? Comment on our FlossTube #2 and we’ll add it to the list!
The 4 patterns above are Fraktur by Teresa Kogut, Red Bird Fraktur by Brenda Gervais, Bless This House by Modern Folk Embroidery, and Fraktur Flowers by La D Da.
Kathy Barrick, Carriage House Samplings, and Modern Folk Embroidery have many Fraktur inspired designs.
The Fraktur Category on Kitten Stitcher’s website includes a variety of designs.
Plum Street Samplers Autumn Fraktur, Blackbird Fraktur, and Fraktur Friends
Others: A Fraktur Love Sampler by Modern Folk Embroidery and Fraktur Friends by Shakespeare’s Pedler.
Resources & Links
Curious to explore more yourself? Here is a list of resources we found interesting:
Fraktur Web – Good basic introduction to Fraktur folk art with links to additional resources and books.
Free Library of Philadelphia: Fraktur – Fabulous digital collection if you’re looking for eye candy. There is also a related blog post: Free Library of Philadelphia Blog Post
Modern Folk Embroidery’s Fraktur related patterns and blog posts
Episode 390 Fraktur on 99% Invisible — This episode is on the history of Fraktur Calligraphy style
Image Citations
Here are the citations for the images we incorporated into this blog post and into Episode #2 of our FlossTube. This order matches the order in which the images were shown on Episode #2 and in the gallery of images above.
Blackletter Calligraphy: By Gerard Brils - Self-photographed by Adrian Pingstone, February 2005, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68618
Magdalena Drach: [Bernhard Misson (active c. 1808-1825)] - Decorator, [Bernhard Misson (active c. 1808-1825)] - Scrivener. (9/11/1823). Birth and Baptismal Certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) for Magdalena Drach. [Manuscripts]. Retrieved from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/6485
Susanna Dock: Anonymous - Decorator, Anonymous - Scrivener. (ca. 1825). Birth and Baptismal Certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) for Susanna Dock. [Manuscripts]. Retrieved from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/6706
Helehna Henkel: Anonymous - Decorator, Anonymous - Scrivener. (ca. 1801). Birth and Baptismal Certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) for Helehna Henkel. [Manuscripts]. Retrieved from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/6439
Drawing (Two Birds): Anonymous - Decorator. (ca. 1830). Drawing (Two Birds). [Drawings]. Retrieved from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/6245
Drawing (Two Unicorns): Anonymous - Decorator, Anonymous - Scrivener. (1799). Drawing [Two Unicorns]. [Drawings]. Retrieved from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/6254
Dower Chest: Retrieved from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/3396
Drawing (Pot with Tulips): Anonymous - Decorator. (ca. 1820). Drawing (Pot with Tulips). [Drawings]. Retrieved from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/6223