Jar with Cover 2000

This Jar with Cover was crafted by Robert Sutherland, using what appears to be white clay. Notice the array of parallel lines etched along the surface, a motif that speaks across cultures and epochs. These lines, while seemingly simple, echo patterns found in ancient pottery and textiles, evoking a sense of order and continuity. The verticality might remind us of the ‘horror vacui’—the fear of empty space—that drove artists in ancient times to fill every surface with pattern. Think of the packed compositions on Greek vases, or the intricate details of Islamic art. Here, the lines create a visual rhythm, engaging the eye and suggesting a connection to deeper, perhaps subconscious, desires for structure and containment. The jar itself, as a vessel, carries connotations of holding, protecting, and preserving—emotions deeply tied to our human experience. And so, these elemental shapes continue to resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different contexts.