POSTFOLK: GREEK MOTIFS

MOTIFS AND FABRIC PATTERNS CLASSIFICATIONS

1ST General Lyceum of Levadia

It is amazing that a modestly small number of symmetry types rule the whole wondrous universe
of repeated patterns
from the earliest tribes to the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, to modernity.
Motif:
One or many distinctive and recurring elements, forms, shapes, or figures that make up a design.

Pattern:
A design composed of a number of elements (motifs) arranged in a regular or formal manner. Often refers to "repeat pattern."

 Layout
 An arrangement of motifs in a pattern, such as diamond, drop, gradation, grid, spot, and others. Also called repeat system. 
 
Background
 The part of a design that appears to be farthest from the viewer and behind the objects of interest. Can be a solid color, texture,
random objects, or another pattern (patterned ground). Also called ground. Opposite of foreground. 
 
 Pattern Classifications
o MOTIF OR SUBJECT MATTER florals, geometrics, paisleys, conversationals, abstract, plaid, stripe, etc.; florals can be further subdivided
into roses, palmette (botanical or stylized), etc.; conversationals can be subdivided into pictorials, figuratives, etc.; geometrics into line
patterns, argyle, etc.)
o SYMMETRY (types of symmetries include glide reflection symmetry, reflection symmetry, translation symmetry and rotational symmetry.
o LAYOUT TYPE (diamond, drop, gradation, grid, spot, etc.)
o LAYOUT ARRANGEMENT (allover, foulard, etc.)
o PATTERN DIRECTIONS (one-way, two-way, undirectional, etc.)
o PURPOSE OR APPLICATION (textile, apparel, home furnishing, camouflage, etc.)
o PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE USED OR IMITATED (watercolor, airbrush, hound'stooth weaving, herringbone, chevron, satin, picotage, 
eccentrics, batik, etc.)
o SCALE (small-scale for contract design or large-scale for home furnishing)
o TARGET GARMENT OR ACCESSORY (rugs, bandanna, neckwear, etc.)
o COLORING (madders, khaki, etc.)
o HISTORIC PERIOD, ART MOVEMENT, OR PLACE OF ORIGIN (Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Liberty style, Pop Art, toile de Jouy, herati, tartan, 
Islamic, ethnic (Indian, African tribal, Maya, etc.), contemporary, etc.)
MOTIF OR SUBJECT MATTER
 BIRD'S EYE
A weave forming small-scale diamond shapes (diaper) each with a dot in the center, suggestive of the eye of a bird.
Also a small-scale (typically geometric) design of a similar shape. A somewhat bigger weave is sometimes referred to as pheasant's eye. 
Bird’s eye patterned fabric is typically used in the construction of men’s suits and other pieces of clothing such as T-shirts and neckties.

Pheasant's Eye Weave

GREEK KEY PATTERN OR MEANDER
 A plane geometric pattern or a border interlocking that consists of lines that meet at right angles. Also known as fret pattern. Often used as an
ornamental border design. 
 Mary Katrantzou: de-codes Greek Key symbol

https://thegreekdesigners.com/2017/04/14/mary-katrantzou-de-codes-greek-key-symbol/
Meander was the most important symbol in
Ancient Greece, symbolizing infinity or the
eternal flow of things. It is considered that
there is a connection with the Cretan
labyrinth – the meander is the figure of a
labyrinth in linear form.
The twisting pattern symbolizes as well the bonds of
friendship, of love and has also been thought to mimic
the serpent, symbol of guardianship and healing. Perhaps
this is why the design was also used on armor, such as
this shield of Philip II of Macedon.

The meander motif appears frequently on Greek pottery,

especially in the Geometric period, but is also used in
monumental sculpture, for example, in frieze decoration
on temple pediments.
Marietta Karpathiou, Margarita Dimitriadou, George Pavlakis 
Ergon Mykonos

With the Amphora as a symbol, Ergon Mykonos leads

the victorious blend of ancient Greek heritage and
modern life, instilling a fresh style into the
contemporary aspects of art. In collaboration with art
technicians from all over Greece, the brand combines
Greek modernized symbols with high quality materials,
such as leather, gold and local natural fabrics, to
transform culture into innovative pop designs. Minimal
lines, style and modern techniques define the product
line, presented through a range of modern
compositions of everyday life; jewelry, clothing,
accessories even homeware.
Angelos Bratis
Doric rhythm

The principal form of the three

classical architectural orders of
ancient Greece is characterized
by its symmetrical purity of line
and absence of superfluous
ornamentation. The elementary
solid structure of Doric rhythm
 inspires the launch of a
permanent but evolving new
label of ready to wear
from Angelos Bratis.
Medallion
 A circular part of the design in the shape of a disk, oval, diamond, hexagon, or other rotational figure, typically with a mirror symmetry,
often used in the center as a focal point of an engineered design, or as an organic part of the motif. 
 

VERSACE
medallion-motif baseball cap
Geometric
 A motif, pattern, or design depicting abstract, nonrepresentational shapes such as lines, circles, ellipses, triangles, rectangles, and
polygons. 
Organic
 A design inspired by, based on, or composed of plants, bouquets, vases, birds or a matter of animal origin. Contrast to geometric. 

Tree of Life
Floral or Anthemion
 A design using flowers and other nature elements such as seed pods, leaves, and marine plants. Florals can be further
subdivided into roses, palmette (botanical or stylized).
Palmette is a classical motif based on a stylized radiating, fan-shaped palm leaf commonly found in Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian,
and other ancient art.
Diamond
 A pattern whose elements are arranged along diagonal (diamond) lines. 
Ethnic
 Art typical of a specific nationality or a design based on folk art. 
TYPES OF SYMMETRY
• glide reflection symmetry,
• reflection symmetry,
• translation symmetry and
• rotational symmetry
GLIDE REFLECTION SYMMETRY
ΟΛΙΣΘΑΙΝΟΥΣΑ ΑΝΤΑΝΑΚΛΑΣΤΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΡΙΑ/ ΟΛΙΣΘΑΝΑΚΛΑΣΗ
REFLECTION SYMMETRY
ΑΜΦΙΠΛΕΥΡΗ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΡΙΑ 
TRANSLATION SYMMETRY
ΜΕΤΑΦΟΡΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΡΙΑ
ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY
ΠΕΡΙΣΤΡΟΦΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΡΙΑ
PATTERN DIRECTIONS
ONE-WAY PATTERNS (either vertical or horizontal)
 A design in which all motifs are oriented the same way facing
one direction

TWO-WAY PATTERNS half the motifs face upright and half are upside
down so that the pattern gives the same feeling in either vertical direction

MULTIDIRECTIONAL LAYOUT

REPEAT PATTERN
 A design for decorating a surface composed of a number of elements (motifs) arranged in a regular or formal manner.

TWO-COLOR (COUNTERCHANGE) SYMMETRIES

 Symmetries that combine geometrical operations (translations, rotations, reflections, and glide reflections) with color reversals.
There are exactly 46 types of two-color symmetries on the plane. See also counterchange pattern. 
 LAYOUT ARRANGEMENT
(allover, foulard, etc.)

Allover basically means covering the whole extent

or surface. This is  a layout with motifs  distributed This is a layout with small motifs repeated all over
all over the fabric – Here the motifs are randomly the fabric in a block repeat layout.
placed with regular or irregular spacing between
them, but usually very close to each other and
facing different directions.