THE BIRD MOTIF

The bird motif

Ceramics can be considered the ‘Ariadne’s thread’ that unravels the dense web of variations and constants that have shaped Mediterranean identity. In the decorations, widespread ornamental motifs such as the spiral, the stylised palm tree trunk, and herringbone or braid patterns—sometimes executed on manganese or copper-green surfaces, or more often graffitied with small combs or the potter’s own fingernail—are just a few examples of decorations used throughout the Mediterranean basin.

The bird motif in this sequence of objects shows similar traits that have transcended time and place: from the 14th-century Persian tile to the 17th-century Sciacca tile, through late 17th-century Spanish lustres, and the 20th-century Iranian artefact, all featuring the same motif.