Patterns that had specific meanings at their inception later travel through various cultures and treatments. When not in use, they return to the archive, only to be reincarnated at a later time in a new place or in a new style… as if [Carl] Jung’s idea of the collective unconscious were made literal in this storage of shapes.
–Textile Designs: Two Hundred Years of European and American Patterns by Susan Meller and Joost Elffers
Pottery and patterns have been connected for centuries. Almost every culture that has created pottery has used patterns to decorate and embellish them. “Many of the patterns in use today are decorative adaptations of specific shapes that once had meaning to both the maker and the user.” Sometimes, these patterns have a meaning pertaining to lore or symbols. Other times, these patterns are simply meant to decorate. In her book What is Art For?, Ellen Dissanayake explains that “pattern is a way of organizing elements in a systematic and rhythmic way that is visually pleasing.” By using patterns in pottery, artists can turn lifeless clay into beautiful, eye-catching ceramics that carry meaning and culture.
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