All surfaces have inherent tactile qualities. These can be enhanced or altered by human manipulation such as polishing, carving and beating, or by natural processes such as weathering, cracking, and accretion (the accumulation of such things as dust, muck, coral, scale, or moss over time). These material qualities often appeal to our sense of touch, informing us in subtle ways about the history or use of the object. In addition, tactile qualities can stimulate emotional associations such as ruggedness or neglect in the case of rough textures, or sophistication or preciousness in the case of smooth, polished surfaces.
