Swift Creek iconography? Depiction, pareidolia, and design names

Some have argued that certain reconstructed designs in the Swift Creek tradition of carved paddle stamps were not merely ornamental but had representational intent, depicting such things as faces, birds, and flowers. Such sentiment has fluctuated over time. Presently, with the availability of hundreds of reconstructed paddle designs, some consider the matter settled to the extent that the iconographic emphases of Swift Creek can be discussed in a factual way. However, working out the design principles of Swift Creek style has shown that a majority of designs are derived from simple geometric forms that dominate the earliest examples. To the degree that is true, representational intent in later designs must have been read into earlier ornamental forms. The uncertainty of the matter suggests the possibility that pareidolia, the instinct to perceive familiar objects where none are present or intended, may well be guiding design interpretations. Further, Swift Creek designs are of the same general sort that have attracted names of convenience in ornamental art worldwide. The implications of these possibilities should be explored.