Be a medieval pattern detective
Look at the fascinating patterns from a rare 15th century pattern book in the British Library:
1. Figure Alphabet Letters K to V
2. Decorated Alphabet Letters A to M3. Initials 'B' and 'A' with border designs4. Initials 'D' and 'D' with two different border designs
Its time to decode each image:
- What sort of things/ shapes can you spot in the image - list them?
- Is there anything unexpected in the pattern?
- What do you think each shape signifies?
- Notice the way all the shapes are arranged - why do you think the person who made it arranged it in this way?
- What is the focal thing in the pattern? Why does it stand out more than other things?
If you took this pattern out of a book:
- What would it mean if you saw this pattern in a book in someone's home?
- What would it mean if you saw it in a magazine/ item of clothing?
- Would the image mean something different if it was made at another time?
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