The Golden Rule.

Item Details

Lindau, Germany:, Lutterloh, [n.d., ca. 1950]., Two-ring binder.

Very good.

8 ½ x 6 ¾ in. [148 pp] + 222 reproductions of drawings for patterns.

Gathered in original red two-ring binder with gilt title and design. 415 illustrated / photographed figures (color & b/w) throughout first section, plus 222 pages of drawn cutting/sewing diagrams. Binder in very good condition. Pages exceptionally clean and bright throughout. Two leaves towards mid-section torn at lower ring-hole. A very good + copy.

An illustrated manual, translated from the German, on the Lutterloh System, a method of pattern-cutting created by Maria Lutterloh in the 1930s based on The Golden Ratio. From the title page: “From the earliest times artists, painters and sculptors have applied their special units fo measure for the proportions of the human body – and also in architecture. The classical measure is the golden rule (sectio aurea). The golden rule is considered the origin and the source of all beauty and harmony in the entire universe. What music is to the ear, so is the measurement of the golden rule to the eye.” Contents include prefatory essays on “How to Dress from the Morning to the Evening” and “The Art of Cutting,” followed by over 100 pages of charming, illustrated dress figures, and a further 200-plus pages of cutting/sewing diagrams.

Little is known about Maria Lutterloh herself, but the dressmaking method she pioneered survives to this day under the brand name Luttlerloh System International: “In 1935, Maria Agienberger Lutterloh had a vision. Drawing from the profound beauty and balance of the Golden Ratio, she devised an ingenious system for dressmaking. This wasn't just any method—it was a revelation, allowing dressmakers to craft customized patterns from a single template, all inspired by this timeless proportion… Today, Lutterloh System International stands as a beacon for those who seek the perfect fusion of art and function. Dive deep with us into this world where the Golden Ratio is not just a principle—it's a promise of unparalleled beauty and precision” (Lutterloh System International, The Golden Rule page).