john lucas
Although forms are often copied, maybe not per se, but when you start on some shape you have probably seen something similar before. However I think each person adds their own little touch.
I'll use mine as an example. hand mirrors are obviously not new. However each one I do is slightly different than the rest, and probably slightly different than any other.
When people do hollow vessels they probably look like some former earthenware version done thousands of years ago. But I'll bet if you look closely the form is not quite the same, the foot is different, the lip different etc.
This is the excuse I often hear for why we copy, because we are all copying someone from the past and it's all been done before.
Not if you honestly put your heart into a piece. There will be a little bit of you in there somewhere.