Design for Ornamented Tile 1837 - 1900

Carl Faber of Stuttgart created this design for an ornamented tile with graphite and watercolor. The most striking element here is the palmette motif, a stylized, fan-shaped design reminiscent of a palm frond or a lotus blossom. This motif has ancient roots, reaching back to Egyptian and Mesopotamian art, where it symbolized life, fertility, and renewal. Think of its echo in the anthemion found in Greek architecture, or its recurrence in Renaissance and Neoclassical designs, where it often appears as a symbol of elegance and classical virtue. The palmette's enduring presence suggests a deep-seated human fascination with themes of growth and cyclical regeneration. It's as if the collective memory of these ancient civilizations subtly imprints itself on our aesthetic sensibilities, resurfacing in new forms across time. Faber's design, therefore, is not just a decorative pattern, but a continuation of a visual language that speaks to the timeless human experience of nature.