Bowl c. 20th century

This bowl was made anonymously, and has a dark, earthy feel to it. Imagine the artist slowly building up the form with their hands, coaxing the clay into shape, refining and smoothing the surface. I wonder if, as they were making it, they were thinking about how the bowl would be used, the objects it might contain. I am intrigued by the way the linear pattern wraps around the bowl’s belly. Look closely and you’ll see the neat rows of diagonal lines creating subtle diamond shapes. It’s like the artist was exploring a grid, but on a curved surface rather than a flat plane. The simple shape is satisfying in its functional beauty. It feels connected to the history of mark-making and pattern-making. Artists continue to inspire one another across time, building on ideas and methods, each leaving their own mark. Isn’t it amazing how making something can embody so much?