Persian Ornament no. 1. Ornaments from Persian manuscript in the British Museum 

This is Persian Ornament no. 1, created by Owen Jones. He was a British architect and designer known for his interest in historical ornament, and this work exemplifies that. Jones meticulously rendered these patterns, sourced from Persian manuscripts, using lithography, a printmaking technique that allows for detailed reproduction. The evenness of the colors and lines speaks to the precision of the printing process. Consider the social context: Jones was active during the height of the British Empire. His study of non-Western design was part of a broader Victorian interest in cataloging and classifying the world. These patterns, originally embedded in a rich cultural context, are here presented as isolated specimens. Jones's work reflects both an appreciation for Persian aesthetics and a colonial impulse to collect and display. By focusing on the materials, processes, and cultural context of this print, we can move beyond simply admiring its beauty and understand its complex relationship to design history and global power dynamics.