Embroidery Pattern with Seven Six-pointed Stars and Four Corner Pieces

Albrecht Dürer, a pivotal figure of the Northern Renaissance, created the refined woodcut titled Embroidery Pattern with Seven Six-pointed Stars and Four Corner Pieces sometime between 1500 and 1521. As a specialized print, the medium allowed Dürer to disseminate sophisticated decorative motifs, impacting craftsmen and textile workers across Europe by providing accessible design sources.

The work itself functions as a template, meticulously detailing symmetrical ornamentation suitable for fine embroidery, lacemaking, or other surface design applications. The central structure consists of seven six-pointed stars enclosed within complex geometrical framing, balanced by four individual designs intended for corners or borders. This arrangement demonstrates Dürer’s deep understanding of geometric symmetry and balance, characteristics highly valued in Renaissance design theory.

By producing patterns like this, Dürer played a vital role in elevating the status of applied arts through reproducible imagery. The clear, precise lines inherent to the woodcut technique ensured fidelity when the designs were transferred to fabric or other media. The availability of such prints allowed for the rapid spread of the German Renaissance style. This historically significant piece, recognized for its contribution to decorative design history, is proudly housed within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Works derived from the original matrix frequently enter the public domain, allowing broad access to the master's graphic genius.