Pa. German Show Towel
c. 1937
This charming piece depicts a traditional Pennsylvania German 'show towel,' a decorative linen once hung on walls to display a young woman's embroidery skills. Created by Frances Lichten around 1937, it reproduces an 1847 cross-stitch design featuring folk motifs like paired birds, a deer, and a heart bearing the initials 'J S.' The stitched poem—'Jacob Stouffer this towl I made for sake of the... When this you see remember me'—transforms a simple household item into a touching romantic keepsake. Lichten was a key figure in the American folk art revival, translating these rustic patterns into modern designs that celebrated the country's heritage.
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