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The Cross is developed from the Triple Blintz Basic Form.

There is a separate page for the Cake Basket, which is a simple variant of the Cross.

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The Cross

In Japan (and in publications by Japanese authors)

1878

A drawing of the Cross appears in 'Yochien Ombutsu No Zu', a publication of kindergarten material issued by the Tokyo Women's Normal School in 1878.

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1884

A drawing of the Cross, but called 'kaka tourou' (stone lantern), also appears in 'Kindergarten Shoho' (Preliminary Kindergarten) by Iijima Hanjuro, which was copyrighted on October 4th Meiji 17 (1884) and published by Fukuda Senzo in August of Meiji 18 (1885).

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1894

The Cross also appears, interpreted as 'Chochin' (Lantern), in an article in issue 21 of the Japanese children's magazine 'Shokokumin' in 1894.

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In Western Europe and the Americas

1662

As far as I know the Cross first appears as a seviette fold, 'Serviette pliee en form de Croix de Lorraine', in 'L'Escole parfaite des officiers de bouche' which was published by J Ribou in Paris in 1662.

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The Cross also appears:

1682

As 'The cross of Loraine' in 'A Perfect School of Instructions for the Officers of the Mouth' by Giles Rose, which was published by R Bentley and M Magnes in London in 1682 (which is an English translatio of 'L'Escole parfaite des officiers de bouche'.

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1831

Under the heading 'Artful Closure of a Letter', in 'Mechanemata oder der Tausendkünstler' by Dr Heinrich Rockstroh, which was published in 1831.

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1840

The Cross also appears, under the title 'How to Fold a Puzzle-Note, in 'The School Boy's Holiday Companion' by T Kentish, which was published by Relfe and Fletcher in London in 1840.

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1859

As 'La croix' in a list of designs in the 'Manuel Pratique de Jardins D'Enfants de Friedrich Froebel', which was compiled by J F Jacobs and published in Brussells and Paris in 1859.

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1863

In 'De Kleine Papierwerkers 1: Wat men van een stukje papier al maken kan: Het vouwen' (The Small Paperwork 1: What one can make from a piece of paper: Folding) by Elise Van Calcar, which was published by K H Schadd in Amsterdam in 1863.

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1869

A design called 'Das Kreuz', which is not illustrated, but which from the context is most probably the Cross, appears in a list of designs in 'Der Kindergarten' by Hermann Goldammer, which was published by Habel in Berlin in 1869.

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'Paradise of Childhood' by Edward Wiebe, which was published by Milton, Bradley and Company in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1869, and is effectively a translation of Goldammer's 'Der Kindergarten', similarly includes 'the cross' in its list of Forms of Life.

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The design also appears:

1873

As 'Kreuz' in 'Die Praxis Des Kindergartens' by Auguste Koehler, which was published by Herman Bohlau in Weimar in 1873.

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1874

In the revised version of 'Der Kindergarten' by Hermann Goldammer which was published by Carl Babel in Berlin in 1874.

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1876

Twice in 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' by E Barth and W Niederley, which was first published in Bielefeld and Leipzig, and the foreword of which is dated October 1876, first as a paper fold and then, in a different chapter, as a napkin fold.

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1877

In 'Kindergarten Practice' by Mary Gurney, which is a substantially abridged version, in two parts, of 'Die Praxis Des Kindergartens' by Auguste Koehler. The second part, 'Froebel's Plane Surfaces', contains sections dealing with paper folding, cutting and weaving. The date of the first edition is not known. The second edition was published in 1877 in London by A N Myers and Co.

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1880

There is mention of 'The Cross' in 'The Kindergarten Principle' by Mary J Lyschinska, which was published in London in 1880 by Wm Isbister Ltd, but no illustration is provided.

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1882

The design also appears:

In a small section in the paper folding chapter which is devoted to napkin folds, in part two of 'The Kindergarten Guide' by Maria Kraus Boelte and John Kraus, which was probably first published by E. Steiger and Company in New York in 1882.

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1887

In the introduction to an article on folding 'Nantucket Sinks' (Sanbos on Legs) in the August 1887 issue of the American children's magazine St Nicholas the writer says 'How enchanting it was to see Napoleon's 'breast-pin' transformed in an instant into his 'steamboat' ...' This is possibly a reference to changing the Cross into the Steamship.

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1891

In 'Pleasant Work for Busy Fingers' by Maggie Browne, which was published by Cassell and Company in London in 1891. Thios book is an English version of 'Des Kindes Erste Beschaftigungsbuch' enhanced by the addition of a few extra designs.

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1895

As 'Einen Orden' (a medal) in 'Der Kindergarten' by A S Fischer, which was published by Alfred Holder in Wien in 1895.

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The Cross is pictured, but not named, in Eleonore Heerwart's 'Course in Paperfolding',which was first published in Dutch in 1895 then in English by Charles and Dible in London and Glasgow in 1896.

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The Cross also appears:

1899

In 'Le Livre des Amusettes' by Toto was published in Paris by Charles Mendel in 1899 ...

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1900

In 'Die Frobelschen Beschaftigungen: Das Falten' by Marie Muller-Wunderlich, which was published by Friedrich Brandstetter in Leipzig in 1900.

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1907

In 'El trabajo manual escolar' by Vicente Casto Legua in the January 1907 issue of the Spanish magazine 'La Escuela Moderna' which was published in Madrid by Los Sucesores de Hernando, under the name of Cruz de Saboya (Cross of Savoy)

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1923

As a serviette fold, under the title of 'Tart's Cross' (ie a cross to hold a tart), in 'More Paper Magic' by Will Blyth, which was published by C Arthur Pearson in London in 1923.

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The Double Cross

1899

This variation appears in 'Le Livre des Amusettes' by Toto, which was published in Paris by Charles Mendel in 1899. The reverse side of the Cross is developed into the Double Cross shown below.

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