Pictures thousands of simple designs and patterns with names and origins from various cultures across the world. 88 Pages.
Donated to SCVC by the family of Alan Huntzinger in 2025.
3,000 Decorative Patterns of the Ancient World
Author: Flinders Petrie; 1986, 88p
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2 responses to “3,000 Decorative Patterns of the Ancient World”
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Xiaohan checked out the book on November 13, 2025
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This book is not merely a catalog of ancient decorative motifs, but also an insightful reflection on culture and aesthetics. Petrie emphasizes that the value of decoration lies not in fulfilling practical needs, but in its pure creativity—spirals, geometric forms, and representations of plants and animals were not necessities for survival, but expressions of ancient people’s aesthetic sensibilities, cultural mindset, and spiritual pursuits. Because there was no practical pressure, different peoples exhibited great diversity in their decorative creativity.
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