Pottery Basket c. 1937

This is Angelo Bulone’s watercolour of a pottery basket. Notice the basket’s intricate woven pattern, echoing the interlaced designs we see in ancient Celtic knotwork. Such patterns were not merely decorative; they carried deep symbolic weight. In many cultures, interlaced designs represent the interconnectedness of life, the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This echoes the archetypal image of the labyrinth or maze, a symbol of life's journey, with all its twists, turns, and challenges. Consider, too, how this motif resurfaces in medieval illuminated manuscripts and even in modern abstract art. The persistence of this design speaks to the enduring human fascination with patterns that reflect the complexities of existence. It is an emotional expression of the continuous cyclical progression throughout history. These motifs, passed down through generations, evolve and take on new meanings, yet always retain a link to our collective past.