Household utensils 

This engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi presents a collection of household utensils discovered in Pompeii, offering us a glimpse into daily life in the ancient world. Dominating the composition is the recurrent motif of the spiral, seen most clearly in the large, ornate plate. The spiral is one of humanity’s oldest symbols. We can find it in prehistoric cave paintings and Bronze Age pottery. It represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, a concept deeply embedded in the human psyche. The serpent, coiling to form the handle of a jug, is another powerful symbol. From the serpent in the Garden of Eden, to the Ouroboros—the snake eating its tail—these reptilian figures embody transformation, healing, and primal instinct. These symbols resonate with a collective memory, a psychological inheritance passed down through generations. The objects depicted here tap into something ancient and fundamental within us, reminding us that even in our modern lives, we are connected to the deep currents of history.