Pareidolia
  Pareidolia? Don't worry, I didnt know that word either, until quite recently.

The dictionary describes it as "the tendency to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulous, usually visual, so that one detects an object, pattern, or meaning where there is none."

For example, "seeing faces" in inanimate objects ... which perfectly describes an affliction I've had for most of my adult life:

I see faces ... EVERYWHERE!

Maybe you do, too?
 

In June 2025 an interesting article appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine:

"Did a Neanderthal Who Lived 43,000 Years Ago Paint a Red Nose on a Rock That Looked Like a Face?"

Authored by Sarah Kuta, the article was accompanied by a photograph of a small rock (approximately 8" x 4") with vaguely face-like features.

The researchers wrote: “The fact that the pebble was selected because of its appearance and then marked with ocher shows that there was a human mind capable of symbolizing, imagining, idealizing and projecting his or her thoughts on an object".

If I may add to this, I'm convinced this particular Neanderthal also had a sense of humour!

     

A number of years ago I started taking photographs -- or scanning images -- whenever I thought I saw a "face".

Some of the examples below are better than others, but here's a selection of images I've collected ...

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Take-out coffee lid

  Take-out coffee lid   Wine bottle seal?
 
 
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Take-out coffee lid, Toronto
(some days this is how I feel)

  Picture frame hook   Cardboard packaging material
 
 
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Traffic barrier
New York

  Traffic barrier
New Jersey
  Old door with plate removed
 
 
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Picture frame hook

  Elevator, Millburn NJ   Elevator, Naples FL
 
 
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Plastic packaging material

  Cardboard packaging material   Stryrofoam packaging material
 
 
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Security camera with lights

  House somewhere?  

Lightouse
Martha's Vineyard

 
 
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Antique brass door latch, part 1

  Antique brass door latch, part 2    
 
 
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Fire hose outlet
New York?

  Fire hose outlet
New York?
  Fire hose outlet
New York?
 
 
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  Not sure what this is. It's next to the Target store, Maplewood NJ   Thule bicycle seat
London, UK
  Thule bicycle seat
London, UK
 
 
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      Airplane ceiling air vents   Electrical switch
London, UK
 
 
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      Miele vaccum, carpet attachment
  Remington hair clipper
 
 
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  Microwave rotor   Electrical adaptor   Bottom of trash bin, London
 
 
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  Vileda mop strainer   Airplane lavatory, hot-cold faucet   Wall-mount tool-holder
 
 
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  Mop, Brooklyn NY   Online screen capture   Bollard, Martha's Vineyard
 
 
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  Vileda Ultamax mop part   Henkel pasta ladle   Vileda Ultamax mop part
 
 
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      Toaster interior   Sidewalk stain, New York
 
 
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  Audi key fob        
 
 
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  Air fryer, screen capture   Winter boot clasps   Purse, screen capture
 
 
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  Shopping cart, Home Depot
Maplewood NJ
  Old brass door plate    
 
 
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Floor access panel
New York subway car

  Luggage rack bracket
New Jersey Transit train
  Restaurant, Brooklyn NY
 
 
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  Wire-cutter tool   Cupboard
Le Colombier Restaurant
London UK
  Hotel lobby, lights and chimney
 
 
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  St. Yeghiche Armenian Church
London UK
  Door latch, washing machine
London UK
  Old barn, Lougheed Highway
Mission, BC, Canada
 
 
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  Security camera
Online screen capture
  Össur backpack
London UK
  Sidewalk, Cromwell Road
London UK
 
 
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  Some kind of portable barrier?
Heathrow Airport
  Elevator
Heathrow Airport
  Concrete roadside barrier
Mission, BC, Canada
 
 
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  Gate latch, London   Door pull   Oven knobs, New York
 
 
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  Swiss cheese slices   ???   UAD Pultec audio plug-in
 
 
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  Irrigation cover
Las Vegas
 

Front Desk decoration
Hotel, Las Vegas

  Cupboard
 
 
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  United Airlines galley latches   Las Vegas airport   Latch (screen capture)
 
 
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  New York subway        
 
 
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  ???   Landscape drain   Heavy duty jack, base
 
 
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  Stairs, New York subway   ???   Water spout, New York
 
 
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  X-ray panel, New York   Coat - gromets and zipper   Outdoor propane heater, base
 
 
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  Toilet button   New York Street   Tub drain lever
 
 
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  ???   Weight for a tent pole   New York Street
 
 
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  Cardboard on the street   New Jersey Transit   Detail of a dermatology device
 
 
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  NJ Transit train?   NJ Transit train?   Air vents
Barcelona airport
 
 
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  Air vents, Dishoom Restaurant Kensington, London   Part of a childrens shoe measuring device, London  

Toilet, Mercer Hotel
Barcelona

 
 
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  When I was in London a friend sent me this image from New York   The very next day, while walking in London, I saw this brick-size item in Trevor Street near Harrods!  

Sidewalk, Battersea Power Station
London

 
 
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  London   Some kind of vent, London  

London

 
 
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  New York subway   Pilates machine  

New York sidewalk

 
 
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  New York fire hydrant   Subway station  

Sliced strawberry