The Art of Scherrenschnitte Paper Cutting

Scherrenschnitte among the Pennsylvania Dutch is a distinctive style of paper cutting dating back as early as the eighteenth century. Examples of paper cutting are found globally, however Scherrenschnitte is a term used among German-speaking people and their descendants in the Europe and the United States.  The Pennsylvania Dutch forms feature repeated motifs of birds and other symbols, as well as other stylistic differences that set it apart from other American paper-cutting styles.

The availability of materials made Scherrenschnitte an accessible art for Pennsylvania Germans. All that was needed was a sharp pair of scissors, paper and patience. Historic examples showing wide range of abilities, from celebrated artists such as Peter V. Fritsch (1945-2015) to less complicated works produced in the home.

Some examples include those made as tokens of affection or valentines that would have been gifted or traded to others, these examples feature hearts and other symbols of devotion. Many examples were stored in family bibles discovered by subsequent generations as common family expressions of the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.