Table of Contents
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Front page
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 2a
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8a
Chapter 8b
Chapter 8c
Chapter 8d
Chapter 8e
Chapter 8f
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17

References and Resources

 

 

Examples of Redwork Embroidery from Europe

German Overtowels and Linens Share Messages

Chapter 8b

 

German Redwork decorates many household linens, and often have sayings which explain an item's use, or are words that encourage the housewife to be happy while doing her chores.

Overtowels are larger and fancier than most kitchen towels. Special racks made of wood, some of them very ornately carved, hang in German kitchens. These have small hooks for hanging wet kitchen towels. A dowel which extends across the length of the rack holds an oversized decorative towel that obscures the utilitarian towels while they dry for another use.

One sighting online was the offer of a Bluework “overtowel,” (Uberhandtuch), which said, “Ohne Fleiss Kein Preiss.” This proverb means “Success never comes easily.”¹

Another type of item that I have seen offered twice on eBay is a potholder pouch with the word, “Topflappen,” cross-stitched on its front. An example of one of these also appears on the pages of the book on German textiles that is mentioned in this chapter.

My Collection of German Overtowels

Featured here are other overtowels with sayings in German. This type of towel is longer than one would expect in a kitchen towel and is sometimes made of linen. One piece that measures 39 3/4” long x 23” wide shows the image of a woman about to serve hot and steaming food. That one says, “Schnell und frisch giebt guten Tisch.” This means, “Fast and fresh makes a good table,” i.e., “a good meal.” The literal meaning of the word “Tisch” is “table.” German nouns are always capitalized.

A second overtowel rendered in Blue threads (Bluework) is very unusual, not only because of the isolated square embroidered designs but also because of the way in which the German saying is stitched. The letters of the words, “Reinlichkeit das Herz erfreut,” are embroidered using Buttonhole Stitch. Translated to English, the saying means, “Cleanliness makes the heart rejoice.” This towel measures 40 3/4” long x 22 5/8” wide, and has a sleeve for hanging it.

A third Redwork overtowel features a large basket of flowers. The words say, “Mein Herd, mein Stolz,” which means, “My hearth, my pride.” This piece measures 44 7/8” long x 22 3/4” wide. The saying appears on other German overtowels which feature a raised fireplace, a typical European hearth that prevented children from getting hurt, and the long dresses of women from being caught in the flames.

According to Sarah Ellis, who has studied Comparative Linguistics, the word, “Herd,” alludes to a prior phrase: “Haus und Herd haben”...sein eigenes Heim haben, einen eigenen Haushalt fuehren” which means “to have house and hearth...to have one's own home, to manage one's own household.” She states that in earlier times, the hearth was the center of the home. One cooked there, and ate in front of the fire for physical and social reasons. At the hearth, people could share company, pleasant times, news, and gossip.

The Importance of a Hearth of One's Own

According to Sarah Ellis, if someone had a hearth of their own, it meant that the person was able to sustain and provide for not only himself or herself, but could share food and shelter with others. So when a person would speak of their hearth, in connection with their pride, the saying would indicate a pride in their home, and in the richness of their hospitality. The quality of being self-sufficient and able to reach out to others with warmth and caring “was considered a great achievement, a proud sense of self-worth.”

This information is based on an entry in the book, Wahrig Deutsches Worterbuch, 1980, column 1773. The extensive dictionary has no page numbers. When we checked online, there were just a few copies of this out-of-print book available. One 4,319 page volume was listed at online as having been published in 1979 by Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, München, Germany. ISBN: #3570016315.

Comparative Study- Czech and German pieces

If one looks at the first Czech wall hanging shown at the beginning of this chapter and compares it to another German overtowel in our collection, one would see many similarities. Again, a woman is cooking at a raised hearth on this piece of Redwork that measures 40” high x 23” wide. Translated by Patricia Cummings, the words, “Eine gute Hausfrau kocht mit Fleiss Ehegatten Lieblingsspeis,” mean, “A good housewife cooks with expediency her spouse's favorite foods.”