ornamentation glossary

acanthus leaves

a stylized LEAF MOTIF, one of the primary decorative elements of classical architecture, as evident on the capital of the corinthian column. with its origins in greece, it was adopted by romans and transmitted into the general classical tradition

anthemion

based on the honeysuckle flowers and leaves

arabesque

moorish design or scrollwork, leaves flowers, and interlaced branches, beautifully intertwining and flowing patternnof eaves and flowers, and based on the assyrian tree of life

atlantes

a full or half male figure used instead of a column or in place of a furniture leg

baseboard

board placed at the base of a wall and rests on the floor; usually treated with moldings

beading

decorative strip or molding that resembles a STRING OF BEADS. found on furniture, silver, glassware, pottery etc.

bevel

the edge of any flat surface that has been cut at a slant to the main area

boulle

TORTOISESHELL, IVORY, MOTHER-OF-PEARL and METALS of various colors used as INLAY TO ORNAMENT CABINTEWORK, name is derived from andre charles boulle

bullnose

ROUNDING OF AN EDGE or aris. e.g. to the edge of a table or a rounded edge of a brick

c and s scrolls

motifs which emulate the letters c and s, which are characteristics of rococo style. found on furniture and decorative frames

wainscot

wooden lining for interior walls, usually paneled. any treatment resembling the same

waterleaf

conventionalized leaf pattern of classical origin used to enrich a cyma reversa molding. sometimes called a leaf and dart pattern

wave pattern

continuous pattern conventionally imitating a series of breaking wave crests

wreath

a decorative band or garland of flowers, foliage, or other ornamental material

crocket

ornament used on the sides of pinnacles, usually leaf or bud shaped; commonly seen in gothic art

formalized bunch of leaves carved at intervals on the edge of wood moldings

cinquefoil

french term meaning"FIVE LEAVES"; a patyern resembling a five-leafed clover

cartouche

form of an unrolled scroll with an oval center and havibg pierced, curled edges; conventionalized shield or ovoid form used as an ornament, often enclosed with wreaths, garlands on scroll-like forms

caryatid

column carved in human form, used as a supporting motif in an architectural composition

cavetto

molding of concave form approximating a quarter circle

ceiling rose

generally made of plaster, a circular decorative molding fixed to the ceiling, often in the center, and often has a pendant light fitting suspended from it

chair rail

topmost molding of a dado. sometimes known as the dado cap. placed on a wall at the height of a chairback to protect the finish of the wall

chamfer

a bevel or slope made by paring off the edge of anything originally right angled. often used on legs of furniture

checkerboard

pattern consisting of alternating light and dark squares

corner block

square block of wood used to form a junction between the sides and head strip of door and window trim. any block similarly usedin cabinet-making

coffer

ornamental SUNKEN PANEL in ceiling, vault, or the lower surface of an arch, beam or other architectural feature

cornice

molded projection that crowns a wall, or divides it horizontally for compositional purposes. may be formed simply with a crown molding or be built up with a number of moldings

crown molding

decorative molding at the junction between a wall and ceiling of a room, or the uppermost horizontal moulding of a classical entablature

cyma recta curve

an s shaped curve which begins and ends horizontally

cyma reversa curva

curve starts and end vertically; a reversed s shaped curve

dado

lower portion of a wall, when treated differently from the surface above it. in the classical styles, the dado usually has a base, shaft, and cap molding, and is often paneled or ornamented

diaper pattern

an all-over or repeating pattern without definite limits

dentil

a small square projecting block in a cornice

echinus

an ovoid shaped molding forming part of a classical capital. it springs from the shaft of the column, just under the abacus

egg and dart moulding

a classical motif foubd on Architectural elements such as decorative cornices and also furniture. consist of repeated and alternate dart and egg (oval) shapes

espagnolette

female head and bust used at the top of a volute

festoon

string of many kinds of material hanging in a curve between 2 points

filigree

divider with an openwork design, the lacey effect produced by twisting and curling wire together or the open work in porcelain

fillet

narrow flat molding or area, raised or sunk to separate larger moldings or areas

fleur de lis

stylized three-petal iris flower tied by an encircling band, used as the heraldic bearing of the royal family of france

flutes

channels in a vertical position used to embellish columns, pilasters, or furniture legs. these are parallel concave grooves that are usee to ornamnet a surface

fret

greek geometric band or border motif, consisting of INTERLACING OR INTERLOCKING LINES, aka the meander or key pattern

gadroon

ELONGATED OVOID FORMS placed in a parallel series and projecting beyond the surface they enrich

gaine

a pilaster that narrows toward the bottom and is capped with a topless female half figure

gargoyle

a grotesque animal or human form used as a water spout

gesso

PREPARED PLASTER OF CHALK AND WHITE LEAD which may be cast to make repeating ornamental forms in relief to apply to wood panles, plaster surfaces, etc.

griffin

monster with a body of a lion and the head of and wings of an eagle

grotesque

an incongruous combination of monstrous animal and human forms

guilloche

band or border running pattern having the appearance of overlapping or interlacing circular forms

herm

a tapering pilaster terminating in a head or bust of a male

hock

cabriole leg formed like the tarsal joint of the hind leg of a quadruped

honeysuckle

decorative motif in greek origin resembling a conventionalized FANLIKE ARRANGEMENT OF PETALS

linenfold

panel resembling a FOLDED CLOTH. prevalent in the gothic period

lozenge

alternate name for the CONVENTIONAL DIAMOND SHAPED MOTIF

lunette

form resembling a crescent/ half moon

mascaron

grotesque head or mask

meander

running ornamnet consisting of an intricate variety of fret or fretwork

melon bulb

highly ornamnented turning in two sections

millefleur

overall pattern of stylized flowers and plants, french origin

nosing

leading or prominent edge of a moulding or drip. it may be the edge of a step or the edge of a table. e.g. bull nosing

ogee or ogive

molding or an arch form composed of two opposing cyma curves whose convex sides meet in a point, thus forming an s, but is somewhat elongated compared to a cyma

ormolu

variety of brass made to imitate gold or bronze, can also be mounted on a surface

ovolo

convex molding used in classical architecture. usually an exact quarter of a circle but in grecian it is flatter and quick on top

oystering

using veneers cut as cross sections of roots and branches of walnut , olivewood and some fruit woods to redemble the irregular concentric rings in oyster shells

patera

flat circle or oval containing acanthus leaves in a rosette arrangement

round or oval shaped disk, often enriched by a rosette or other ornament

pendant

a boss elongated so that it hangs down from the intersection of coffers in ceilings or from tables

papier mache

compound of paper pulp or shreds of paper mixed with paste or glue to be moulded into various shapes

picture mold

horizontal molding near a ceiling from which pictures can be suspended. aka picture rail

plate rail

rail or narriw shelf fixed along a wall and grooved to hold plates, esp for ornaments or display

quatrefoil

a four lobed ornamentation

reeding

a long, semi cylindrical, stem like from a grouping of such used to enrich moldings

rinceau

scroll and leaf ornamnent sometimes combined with cartouches ir grotesque forms and applied to friezes, panels or other architectural forms.

usually a symmetrical gorizontal composition. sometimes called an arabesque

rosette

an ornamnental motif formed by a series of leaves arranged around a central point. the leaves are usually conventionalized and may be arranged to form a circle, ellipse or square

saltier

x pattern

scallop shell

semicircular shell with ridges radiating from a point at the bottom. esp common in furniture design during the queen anne and Georgian periods in england and the united states. alos extensively used in the early Spanish renaissance

scroll

parchment roll used as an ornament

scroll pediment

broken pediment with each half shaped in the form of a reverse curve, and an ending in an ornamnental scroll. usually a finial or some sort is placed in the center between the two halves of the pediment

seaweed

used as marquetry in furniture panes. aka endive

sphinx

figure having the head and breasts of a woman, wings of an eagle, and the body of a lion

strapwork

consisting of enriched interlacing flat bands and forms similar to fretwork

tracery

stonework formed in the head of a gothic window. applied to the surface on a door or wood panel

tree of life pattern

pattern resembling a tree or vine, showing branches, leaves, flowers, and small animals. originating in ancient assyris, it was borrowed by the Persians, east indians and early english renaissance designers

trefoil

three-lobed ornamentaion resembling a clover

trim

MILLWORK AROUND OPENINGS such as windows and doors, usually called casings

torus

convex semi-circular molding

vignettes

ornamental motifs, patterns or portraits centered on a large field

vitruvian scroll

peculiar pattern of scroll work consisting of convolved undulations

volute

spiral scroll forming the characteristics of the ionic capital