Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources

 

Davis Vachon – Raku Plate

 

 

Imminent creative regeneration with serpent powers rare emergence.

 

Throughout history, serpents have held potent and often contradictory symbolism, representing both commanding life-giving energies and destructive forces.  They are associated with fertility, renewal and healing, but also with temptation, evil, and chaos. This awesome duality is reflected in various cultures and mythologies, where serpents are revered as guardians and symbols of wisdom while conversely as agents of destruction. The Year of the Wood Snake in 2025, a significant period in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizes knowledge, transformation, and personal growth, emphasizing the nurturing and creative energy of the jovian Wood element. The snake, in this year, represents strategic thinking, intuition, and adaptability, encouraging individuals to navigate challenges with a belief in renewal.

THE curvaceous snake appears in art and nature in numerous ways — coiling spirals, winding bends, sensuous curves, serpentine shapes, sinuous undulating patterns all are widely represented.

 

Daniel Kei sculpture  –  ‘Embrace’

 

Serpents shed their skin, symbolizing transformation, immortality, and the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The snake entwined around a staff, the Rod of Asclepius, is a widely recognized symbol of medicine and healing. Serpents are often depicted as guardians of sacred spaces, temples, and treasures. 

Wood Snake eras signify expansive creativity combined with rebirth and only occur with a frequency of every sixty years. Hence the last time this happened was in 1965, which was definately exemplififed by the very distinctive designs of the Mid Century Modern genre and architecture.  Musically, the 60s was highlighted by the brilliant exploration of new styles from the Beatles and a plethora of unique arists like Joni Mitchel, Beach Boys and Jimi Hendrix. The Wood Dragon of 2024 also aligned with this era (1964) which explains the colourful bold designs of this phase.

I’m curious to explore the sinuous, expressive designs that highlighted creativity back then and what is reoccurring now. I’m anticipating irrepressible, entrancing, ebullience will be emerging along with a manifestation of a more instrinsic flow and flexibility.

 

Belle Epoque Snake Bangle

1890

 

Leanne Hamilton – ‘Abundance in Thalo Blue’

— flowing gracefulness of undersea flora and fauna.

 

 

 

‘Evening Land’  – Phillip Hershey

 

 

‘Sculpture 77’  —   Jack Eagan

 

 

Peter Layton

 

 

Citroen DS — 1965

The name DS is a pun on déesse, the French word for goddess, reflecting its iconic status and advanced nature. It has been recognized as one of the most influential auto designs.

 

 

Serpent coiled Tree Of Life

 

Dewi Sri, the Hindu Goddess of rice and fertility.

Snakes were reveared for good fortune instead of being feared as dangerous

 

 

Zsolnay, Ungarn, Janos Török

1950

 

Donations to ancient Jamon Stone Charms  –  reputed to attract luck and money

Kanahebi Suijinja shrine

 

Derek Jungarrayi Thompson, Wati Kuniya I

 

 

FNUM — natures sinuous branches

 

Jacques Lipchitz– ‘Woman and Serpent’

1913

 

Playing the bass wind ‘Serpent’ instrument

Serpentone copper engraving by Arnold van Westerhout

1723

 

 

David Delamare — ‘Mermaid & Octopus’

— flow and movement, as opposed to stagnation, is thought to encourage abundance energies to be welcomed into your space.

 

 

Jon Danson — ceramic sgrafitto vessel

 

 

Medusa snake head wall decor

 

Hygieia bas-relief by Armand Filion, 1955.

 

 

 

Ceramic sculpture ‘Satoru Kundalini’ –– Arna Baartz

 

 

Ai WeiWei — Snake Ceiling,

2009

 

Angel Ceron Life and Death Pre Hispanic Mask

 

 

Altar at the Casa dei Vettii in Pompei. Larario

 

Summer shards 2025 – Catherine White

 

 

Carlton Ware double handled boat shaped center bowl

 

 

Nine Dragon Wall

 

 

Pair of Large Chinese Bronze Cloisonné Dragon and Phoenix Vases

 

 

Kundalini Rising’ by Ross Bannister

 

 

Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand.

 

 

Golden Uraeus of Senusret II, a symbol of royalty and divine authority in ancient Egypt.

 

Jiroft artifact vase

 

 

Bas Relief ‘Mowgli Le Livre De Le Jungle’ — Raymond Delamarre

1927

 

 

‘Ancient Serpent’  Decorative Ceramic Vessel – Arlen Estrada

 

 

‘Waterfall’ by Nando Alvarez

(Carved Abstract Stone Water Flow statue)

 

 

Derrick Wanapi — Jar sgrafitto

 

Yarraville garden Mural

 

 

Teapot, China, Qing Dynasty Kangxi era (1662-1722)

 

 

Egyptian rocket goddess Audrey Flack

 

 

Elvira Bach  — NUDE WITH SNAKE

 

Ornate wall panel relief — sculpture from the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, Karnataka, India.

 

 

Lindy Rontji  – ‘Sand dunes at Papunya’

2007

 

 

MaPo Kinnord ‘Cosmic Key’

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Mid Century Modern curves — Verner Panton ‘Heart Cone Chair’

1958

 

 

 

Han Jiang River Stone

 

 

Azure orange serpent.

 

 

Nataraj terracotta

 

 

Indian dancing

 

 

Waylande Gregory — Large Deco Phoenician Style Melusine Vase

1930s

 

 

‘Mister Curley comes home’ – Michael Leunig

 

 

 

Michael Leunig Aussie artist cartoonist

 

 

Medusa 5D Diamond Painting

 

 

Messiah having  a break

My wonderful ginger cat created this feline art statement by chewing the cardboard for several days.

 

 

Silky Hakea

 

 

Mitchell Grafton – ‘Brown Snake’

 

 

 

Anawuwujjara —  ‘Moch — the Rainbow Serpent’

1969

 

Cobra sculpture ‘Renenutet’– an ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, harvest, and nourishment

 

 

Peter Voulkos

 

Antique Silver Cigarette & Vesta Case

 

 

Ariel image of a landscape serpent in South Australia

 

 

Australian water dragon lizard

 

Benalla Mural art

 

 

Bharti Dayal—Lord Shiva

 

 

Boniface Mushave 90

‘The Thinker’ Serpentine  2001

 

 

Ryan Peters –  Hand-built Raku Teapot – Metallic Copper Gold Pink Blue

 

 

Chongqing–The largest city in the world

popualtion 34 million

 

 

 

 

Fat lava multi color vase from Scheurich germany

1970s

 

 

Mid century West German ceramic floor vase by Carstens Tonnieshof

 

The Christological Symbol (Brazen Serpent Sculpture), created by Italian artist, Giovanni Fantoni,

Stands atop Mount Nebo, Jordan

 

 

Naga sculpture with pearl

 

Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture Nana & Serpent

1992

 

 

 

Pablo Lobato  — drummer Ringo

 

 

‘The First Approach of the Serpent,” an engraving by Gustave Doré

 

 

Philippe Hiquily

 

 

Dragon wall sculpture – Heaveny Queen Temple

 

 

 

Capable of perpetual growth  — Giant python – Sri Lanka

 

 

Queen Califia’s magical circle Niki de Saint Phalle mosaic

Sculpture garden in Escondido

 

 

Red and Turquoise Ceramic Vase

 

 

Rene Lalique ~ Gold Serpent

 

 

Reptilianie nagrania head piece

 

 

rhs garden Rosemoor

 

 

Nastassja Kinski and the serpent — Richard Avedon

 

 

Richard Erdman sculpture

 

Rick Rudd

 

 

Realistic serpent allure wall art

 

 

Serpent Rising—Alexander Calamei

 

 

Sakurako Matsushima — Undercurrents VII

 

 

Tobacco snake Olla by artist Olivia Dominguez

Mata Ortiz

 

 

The Minoan Snake Goddess of Crete — John Duncan

1917

 

The Tetons and the Snake River, 1942 Ansel Adams

 

 

The Punishment Of Loki – Norse mythology. 

 

 

‘Tjapaltjarri’– Clifford Possum,

Carved and Painted Snake

 

Tjimpuna Williams — Piltati II, 2023

stoneware with sgraffito,  435cm height

 

Snake Jungle Wallpaper

 

Edouard CAZAUX vase —  decoration medallions of the birth of Venus and Bacchae, polychrome enamel background coral sections

 

 

Vintage California Style Ceramic Pottery Boomarang Ash Tray

 

 

Vintage Royal Haeger Pottery Mandarin Orange ‘Exotic’ Vase

 

 

 Pair of Arne Jacobsen Swan Chairs

 

 

Winged Caduceus Mercury sculpture

 

 

Yayoi Kusama

photo Sean Fennessy

 

Yayoi Kusama’s — The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe

A highly successful immersive exhibition.

NGV 2025

 

 

Young royal python wrapped around tree trunk with its head facing upwards

 

 

Zeus Meilichios

 

 

Isis, the Graeco Egyptienne serpent goddess descended from Nammu Tiamat

 

 

Vintage Satsuma Moriage Vase —Immortals and Raised Dragon

 

 

Tree Serpent Flame ~ Fairyland Vase by Wedgwood

 

 

Rainbow Serpent Billawarra

 

 

Sascha Brastoff  ~ Snake Charmer Jewelry Box

 

Sascha Brastoff  ~Lady Dancer ashtray

 

 

Phanes, a primordial deity from Greek mythology, often associated with creation and new life. He is described as being born from an egg and is sometimes referred to as the first-born god. Phanes is considered to be the god of time, light, truth, and justice, and is seen as a symbol of cosmic order and knowledge.

 

 

Townley Vase

The urn is decorated with a Bacchic procession, depicting revellers carrying cups, grapes, and other symbols.

 

 

‘Yerrakartarta’ mural — Adelaide

Intercontinetal Hotel Forecourt

 

Indian 8th century Nagaraja carving

 

 

Rosemary Egan Nampijinpa indiginous artist

 

 

‘Maguk’ also known as Barramundi Gorge

Kakadu NT, AUS

 

Amy Chen Wood Vase Sculpture

 

 

 

~~~