Vier rijen met ringschouders before 1742

This print by Paul Collet, titled "Four Rows of Ring Shoulders," presents us with a fascinating array of decorative motifs. Immediately, we see the prominence of chain-like designs and floral elements repeated throughout the four rows. These motifs remind me of the broader tradition of ornamentation found across various cultures, from ancient Egyptian jewelry to Renaissance borders. The intertwined forms, for example, echo the Ouroboros, an ancient symbol of a snake eating its tail, representing cyclicality and the eternal return. Consider the way the floral motifs, simple as they may seem, tie into the age-old association of flowers with life, death, and rebirth. These patterns are not merely decorative; they engage with our collective memory, stirring subconscious connections to rituals, beliefs, and existential understandings that stretch back millennia. This speaks to the enduring power of symbols to transcend time, resurfacing and evolving within different cultural contexts.