In her book "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek," Annie Dillard recounts a story from Pliny about the origins of clay modeling. The tale centers around a potter from Sicyon whose daughter falls in love with a young man who often travels. To keep his memory alive during his absences, she would trace his shadow on the wall created by candlelight and eventually sculpt his profile in the clay.

The father of the girl, noticing her creative endeavor, added potter's clay to her work. After the clay hardened, he baked it and presented the final piece, which reflects the sentimental motivations behind the art of modeling and the deep connection to love and memory.