This richly illustrated, easy-to-navigate sourcebook of surface pattern and three-dimensional ornamentation presents more than one thousand historic and contemporary examples from around the world, each one succinctly identified and explained. Arranged thematically, it is unique among pattern books, as it includes examples not only of surface pattern but also three-dimensional ornamentation and embellishment, from Japanese kimono and William Morris fabrics to Chinese porcelain and contemporary furniture.
Creatives working today are as fascinated and inspired by pattern and ornament as they have always been and this expertly compiled selection will appeal to designers, artists, and illustrators from all disciplines as well as anyone interested in visual and material culture.
Reviews
Helpfully organized by subject, this book can provide many happy hours of ogling for the design-inclined.
— NPR
[A] veritable feast of patterns for the eyes and mind, full of color, intricate details and beautiful repetition. You’ll wish for two copies: one to keep and savor; one to cut up for collage art.
— BookPage (starred review)
Contributors
Amelia Calver
Author
Amelia Calver is Research and Development Manager for the award-winning Brand Licensing Team at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. She has worked at the V&A for more than twenty years and has an impressive familiarity with the museum’s extensive collections.
