In the decorative arts, there has been a long tradition of using organic shapes. The Egyptians used papyrus leaves and flowers. The Romans played with the leaves and fruit of grapes. In the late 19th century, William Morris stylized acanthus leaf shapes and created a dazzling array of designs. This ginkgo plate has a more modern outlook. It is not about stylizing the leaf but rather enjoying the random patterns that the actual leaves evoke.

For decorative use only.