Elfie Stradler jug ( Retro Pottery )
The rock painting below from Kakadu in Australia dates back to around 50,000 years. It clearly indicates an artistic sense of symmetry and geometric design. A desire to express defining symbols and a subconscious longing for structure and order was possibly emerging as was reflected in this ancient rock art. Geometric surface art, with both abstract and symmetrical patterns, have pervaded the pottery arts of most ancient cultures. The earliest on record is the Protogeometric period (1050-900 BC ). Systems of concentric circles or semicircles, groups of oblique shapes, parallel lines, hatched triangles, lozenges and rows of solid triangles, were the main motifs of the period. The shapes of the pottery vessels had evolved into designs such as the amphora, trefoil oinochoe and lekythos, krater, kantharos, skyphos and pyxis.
From the Early Geometric period up to the Middle Geometric which ended in 760BC, the decoration eventually covered the entire surface of the vase in zones separated from each other by vertical groups of lines, creating panels. The following Late Geometric phase saw vases adorned by multi-figural scenes of everyday life, such as naval and land battles, hunting, and dances at religious ceremonies, confined within zones or panels. Geometric motifs were still found, amongst them chequer-board pattern, lozenges, complex meanders, leaves, and rosettes, all arranged vertically or horizontally.
Various representations of geometiric designs have consistently appeared over time, and with some cultures like the Native American, the geometric images on their pottery took on a tribal and spiritual significance. Other eras like Art Deco, featured a predominance of geometric aspects.
Here is a collection of mainly contemporary ceramics displaying various interpretations of geometric styles.
KARL MARTZ – A spherical vase with geometric decoration in green on brick-red ground, 1938
Geometric pyxis with four horses standing on the lid. Terracotta, 760–750 BC (Middle Geometric II). Made in Athens.
A Never Ending Palette – Tammy Garcia
Stoneware teapot – Chris Gustin
ROYAL COPENHAGEN cylindrical vase – Axel Salto
West German Pottery Fat Lava Vases, by Scheurich Keramik ( 60’s )
Simon van der Ven
Vase by Marion Gaunce, porcelain, Britain, 1982.
Ceramic flask- Robert Lallemant
Raymor-Italian pottery bulb
Gambone – Charger with geometric design
“My work is painted, scratched, inlayed with porcelain and decorated with slips. The painted elements are simple: circles, spots and lines compliment the hand built and thrown forms.”
This Acoma Pottery seed pot by Nerissa Victorino is painted in the traditional geometric designs of red and black on white. – N Victorino Acoma NM.
( Pavati Collections )
Gambone Italian square form vessel
John Gill – Ceramic sculptural teapot
Chulucanas Art Deco pottery
Vase with geometric lines
Takagaki Atsushi (b. 1946) – Vessel with vertical folds, 2008
( Franklin Parrasch Gallery )
Aaron Bohrod F. Carlton Ball
Modern Contemporary vase – Don Cornett
Stephen Rodriguez Pottery
Doris Vlasek Hails
Doris Vlasek Hails
Large double handle teapot
Fine Line Geometric Seed Pot – Rebecca Lucario Acoma
Kishi Eiko – Rectangular, leaning form with colored clay inlays, 2007
( Joan B Mirviss Gallery NY )
( Bonhams )
Gianni Versace Venini – Smoking vintage collection ( glass )
HAP SAKWA -Burlwood bud vase
Cubist/abstract bowl – Ralph Bacerra 1988 ( Lacma )
Muncie art pottery Ruba Rombic vase with airbrushed blue over green glaze
( Joan-B-Mirviss NY )
Poole English art pottery vase
Clyde Burt – Tall tapering red clay bottle decorated in wax-resist with an overall geometric pattern in speckled slate gray glaze.
Denmark Vase – by Michael Anderson