MATERIALS OF DESIGN AND DECORATION (ORNAMENTATION)

Acanthus Leaves

A stylized leaf motif, one of the primary decorative elements of classical architecture as evident on the capital of the Corinthian column.

Anthemion

Based on the honeysuckle flowers and leaves

Arabesque

A moorish design or scrollwork, leaves, flowers, and interlaced branches, beautifully intertwining and flowing pattern of leaves 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

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

Beading

A decorative strip or moulding that resembles a string of beads.

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 cabinetwork, name is derived from Andre Charles Boulle

Bullnose

The rounding of an edge or aris

C and S Scrolls

Motifs which emulate the letters C and S, which are characteristics of Rococo style, found on furniture and decorative frames.

Cartouche

The form of an unrolled scroll with and oval center and having pierced, curled edges.

Caryatid

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

Cavetto

A moulding of concave form approximating a quarter circle

Ceiling Rose

Generally made of plaster, a circular decorative molding foxed into the ceiling, often in a center and often has a pendant light fitting suspended from it.

Chair Rail

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

Checkerboard

A pattern consisting of alternating light and dark squares

Corner Block

A square block of wood used to form a junction between the sides and head strip of door and window trim.

Crocket

Ornament used on the sides of pinnacles, usually leaf or bud shaped

Cinquefoil

A French term meaning "five leaves," a pattern resembling a five-leaved clover.

Coffer

an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome

Cornice

A molded projection that crowns a wall, or divides it horizontally for compositional purposes

Crown Molding

A decorative moulding at the junction between a walls 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.

Cyme Reversa Curva

As opposed to the Cyme Recta, here the curve starts and end vertically

Dado

The lower portion of a wall when treated differently from the surface above it.

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 a part of a classical capital

Egg and Dart Moulding

A classical motif found on architectural elements such as decorative cornices and also furniture. Consists of repeated and alternate dart and egg (oval) shapes.

Espagnolette

A female head and bust used at the top of a volute.

Festoon

A string of many kinds of material hanging in a curve between two points

Filigree

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

Fillet

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

Fleur-De-Lis

A stylized three-petaled iris flower tied by an encircling band, used as the heraldic bearing of the royal family of France

Flutes

Channels in a veertical position used to embellish columns, pilaster or funiture legs.

Fret

A Greek geometric band or border motif, consisting of interlacing or interlocking lines, also known as the meander or key patterns

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 topless female half-figure.

Gargoyle

A grotesque carved human or animal figure, especially one used as a rainspout carrying water clear of a wall

Gesso

A prepared plaster of chalk and white lead which may be cast to make repeating ornamental forms in relief to apply to wood panels, plaster surfaces etc.

Griffin

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

Grotesque

An incongruous combination of monstrous animal and human forms

Guilloche

A 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

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

Honeysuckle

A decorative motif of Greek origin resembling a convetionalized fanlike arrangement of petals

Linenfold

A panel resembling folded cloth. It was prevalent in the Gothic Period.

Lozenge

An alternate name for the conventional diamond shaped motif.

Lunette

A form resembling a crescent or half moon.

Mascaron

A grotesque head or mask.

Meander

A running ornament consisting of an inricate variety of fret or fretwork

Melon Bulb

A highly ornameneted turning in two sections

Millefleur

Overall pattern of stylized flower and plants.

Nosing

The leading or prominent edge of a moulding or drip. It may be the edge of a step or the edge of a table or bench.

Ogee or Ogive

A 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

Ovolo

A convex moulding used in classical architecture. It is usually an exact quarter of a circle but in Grecian it is flatter and quirked on top

Oystering

Using veneers cut as cross sections of roots and branches of walnut, olive-wood, and some fruit woods to resemble the irregular concentric rings in oyster shells

Patera

A flat circle or oval containig acanthus leaves in a rosette arrangement

Pendant

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

Papier-Mache

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

Patera

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

Picture Mold

A horizontal molding near a ceiling from which pictures can be suspended. Also called a picture rail

Plate Rail

A rail or narrow shelf fixed along a wall and grooved to hold plates, especially for ornaments or display

Quatrefoil

A four lobed ornamentaion

Reeding

A long, semi-cylindrical, stem like form or a grouping of such used to enrich moldings

Rinceau

Scrolle and leaf ornaments sometimes combined with cartouches or grotesque forms and applied to friezes, panels or other architectural forms.

Rosette

An ornamental motif formed by a series of leaves arranged around a central point

Saltier

An x-pattern

Scallop Shell

A semicircular shell with ridges radiating from a point at the bottom. Common during the Queen Anne and Georgian periods in England.

Scroll

A parchment roll used as an ornament

Scroll Pediment

Broken pediment with each half shaped in the form or a reverse curve and ending in a ornamental scroll. Usually a finial or some sort is placed in the center.

Seaweed

Used as marquetry in furniture panes

Sphinx

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

Strapwork

Consisting of enriched interlacing flat bands and forms similar to fretwork.

Tracery

The stonework formed in the head of a Gothic window.

Tree-Of-Life Pattern

A pattern resembling a tree or vine, showing branches, leaves, flowers and small animals.

Trefoil

A three-lobed ornamentaion resembling a clover

Trim

Millwork around openings such as windows and doors, usually called casings

Torus

A convex semi-circular molding.

Vignettes

Ornamental motifs, patterns or portraits centered on a large field.

Vitruvian Scroll

A peculiar pattern of scroll work consisting of convolved undulations.

Volute

A spiral scroll forming the principal characteristics of the ionic capital

Wainscot

A wooden lining for interior walls, usually paneled

Waterleaf

A conventionalized leaf pattern of classical origin used to enrich a cyma reversa molding.

Wave Pattern

A continuous pattern conventionally imitating a series of breaking wave crests.

Wreath

A decorative band ore garland of flowers, foliage, or other ornamental material