Embroidery Pattern with Seven Wreaths and Four Corner Pieces

Embroidery Pattern with Seven Wreaths and Four Corner Pieces by Albrecht Dürer, created sometime between 1500 and 1521, is an exemplary work of German Renaissance ornamentation rendered as a woodcut print. This piece was designed not primarily as a standalone artwork, but as a practical template intended for use by needleworkers, goldsmiths, or artisans involved in decorative arts. Dürer’s mastery of the woodcut medium allowed for the precise reproduction of complex, detailed designs, facilitating their wide dissemination across Europe, a key requirement for effective pattern books.

The composition features seven distinct circular wreath patterns and four modular corner sections, allowing the user flexibility in applying the ornamental designs to textiles, garments, or interior furnishings. These motifs reflect the geometric rigor and stylized flora characteristic of Northern Renaissance decorative patterns. During this period, design books and printed patterns were crucial tools for maintaining quality and consistency in the production of luxury goods. Dürer was deeply invested in the theoretical aspects of design, geometry, and proportion, which is evident even in this functional print intended for needlework.

This exceptional example of decorative arts design is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The wide circulation achieved through the print medium ensured the work’s lasting influence on European decorative arts. Because these early 16th-century prints are now frequently housed in institutional collections, reproductions often fall within the public domain, making high-quality images of Dürer’s ornamental patterns accessible worldwide for both study and inspiration.