Ornaments have a strong symbolic value.  They embody an idea rather than delineate a form.  Be it in textile, wood, stone, or metal, they come to life through the creative mind of the artisan who works on them. 

One and the same object could take on numerous different forms when being ornamented, depending on the creative vision of the artisan, but also on the convention within which they have been trained and wish to follow or challenge.  Artisans’ imaginations are both a product of the conventional systems that guide their artistic aspirations, and a creative force that challenges the latter, through form and meaning.

The vine-scroll is a perfect example of an ornament that originated millennia ago, around the sixth century BC.  It was adopted by Greek artists, embraced by the Romans, then transmitted to India and subsequently spread through most of East and Southeast Asia, reaching China in almost unrecognizably stylized versions of the original.  Following the trade routes and social movements of the time, a single ornament becаme a vehicle of both tradition and innovation, spreading far beyond its parent culture, transcending its time, and retaining the character of each artist along the way.  The vine-scroll, through an association of wine with blood, has symbolized vastly diverse notions ranging from the joy of life and rebirth, prosperity in Roman times, to land fertility and cyclicity of life in Jewish tradition.

It is interesting to note that ornaments that have remained popular until the modern age are mostly plants and geometric shapes, while those depicting living creatures, on the other hand, have been stylized to an almost unrecognizable form. 

Living creatures as ornamental elements have been a rarity ever since mankind at large broke with the deification of animals.  In those few that still remain popular, the symbolic meaning has superseded representation as a raison d’être, and the living creature depicted has an especially strong symbolic weight, both culturally and religiously.  Examples of such heavily empowered animal symbols are that of the double-headed eagle symbolizing ambitious imperial pursuits and the lion standing for courage and valor.

In such a rich context, we selected the peacock as the symbol of the soul of ODAYA Home and the ornament adorning our first collection.  The peacock is a bird that, similar to the vine-scroll, has traveled vast distances, both as a living creature and as an ornament, and in each culture, it has been assimilated into traditional life and local art.  In Bulgaria, the figure of the peacock is a unique one.  A dazzling import from Central and Eastern Asia, the peacock has trodden house and church yards in Bulgaria ever since and has inspired local artisans to transform it into an ornament symbolizing love and care in the community.  At ODAYA Home we elevate it even further to embody the love and care that artisans put in the creation of our home textile pieces.