Symbol, Pattern & Symmetry ─ The Cultural Significance of Structure

Symbol, Pattern and Symmetry: The Cultural Significance of Structure investigates the cultural significance of pattern and symbol in decorative arts throughout history, demonstrating how connections and comparisons in geometrical pattern can be made across different cultures and how the significance of these designs has influenced craft throughout history.

The book features a vast array of illustrative examples of symbol and pattern from a widespread number of historical and cultural examples, from Byzantine, Persian and Assyrian design, to case studies from Celtic, Japanese and Chinese patterns. In looking at each culture’s specific craft style a strong emphasis is placed on showing how the decorative arts are underpinned with a strict geometric structure, and on explaining how reference to such structures can allow classification and comparison of data from different cultural or historical sources.

Highly illustrated and with clear, original commentary, the book enables students, practitioners, teachers and researchers to explore the historical and cultural significance of symbol and pattern in craft and design, ultimately displaying how a geometrical dialogue in design can be established through history and culture.

Michael Hann is Chair of Design Theory at the University of Leeds, UK and Director of the University of Leeds International Textiles Archive. He is the author of seven design and textile books, including Structure and Form in Design (Bloomsbury, 2012) and has written extensively for numerous journals including the Journal of the Textile Institute and the Textiles Magazine.