You are on page 1of 244

mmw&mmsm m mm

ia

i:

'<-'''

's

"

ut.K'E

FRANK G.JACKSON

ji_nn-J>"1

it'll*

REESE LIBRARY
mi

&

mi

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Received

Pn^u

ssions

Xo.(p33w.

Class No.

189b

THEORY AND PRACTICE


OF DESIGN.

Digitized by the Internet Archive


in

2007

with funding from

Microsoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/designtheoryOOjackrich

THEORY AND PRACTICE


OF DESIGN.
AN ADVANCED TEXT-BOOK ON DECORATIVE

ART.

BEING A SEQUEL TO THE AUTHOR'S

"LESSONS ON DECORATIVE DESIGN."

BY

FRANK

JACKSON,

G.

LECTURER ON

AND TEACHER OF TECHNICAL ART


THE BIRMINGHAM MUNICIPAL SCHOOL OF ART.

PRINCIPLES OF ORNAMENT, ADVANCED DESIGN,


PROCESSES, ETC., IN

Seven Hundred

Illustrations.

LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, Ld


1894.
[All rights

reserved,']

HKisw
73

F. M.

EVANS AND

CO.,

LIMITED,

PRINTERS,

CRYSTAL PALACE,

S.E.

MR

TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE


F.

W.

MOODY

THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE GRATEFULLY DEDICATED.

PREFACE.

The
"

way

kind

Lessons

critics,

on

in

which

Decorative

former

Design,"

a widely expressed desire that

volume, which,

volume,

it
it

is

trust,

specially

may be

mine,

of

received

me

by

to yield to

should write a more

advanced work on the same subject.

whom

was

and students, has led

teachers,

book

Hence

the present

of service to those for

designed.

Like the previous

does not pretend to be a book of designs,

but a book

on

design

not

picture

book,

but a

school text-book.

The

illustrations

and diagrams have been selected

and designed with the view of explaining principles


and directing
of

practice.

Many

of

them are reproductions

impromptu sketches drawn on the blackboard while

lecturing to
insisted

my

classes.

Throughout the work

on the observance of

principles,

construction, and the law of development.

regard

have
for

These are

PREFACE.

necessary aids in the infant stage of a student's education.

They

years advance.

experience he

may be

will

not seem so important to him as

With

will

come

the

increase of knowledge and

to see

how

far rule

and precept

wisely relaxed, and will enter on the enjoyment

of that true freedom which

is

the heritage of the well-

grounded student.

FRANK
March, 1894.

G.

JACKSON.

CTlTIYEHSIT-5

CONTENTS.
PAGE

Introductory

Object of the book

Tendency of modern Decorative Art The prinprinciples


and order, p. 2 Importance of

ciples of irregularity

first

Fitness to purpose illustrated,/.

3.

CHAPTER

I.

Elementary Forms and Methods of Arrangement


The

evolution of lines

and

figures

methods of laying out ornament

used in ornament, p. 7
:

explained

Simple

diapering, chequering, spotting,

powdering, striping, banding, panelling, p,


the diaper,/. 13

The difference between

10 The development
spotting

of

and powdering

Imbrication and vermiculation,/. 19 Some applications


Natural examples of decoration by spotting and

of the foregoing
striping, p. 20.

CHAPTER

II.

Application of Ornament
Suitability

of

decoration

to

22
particular

purposes

characteristics of the surfaces of a wall

and a

of patterns applicable to curtains, p. 23

The

surfaces of

rooms and the

distribution of

considered

textile

The

The
nature

division of the wall

ornament,/. 24

Plinth,

CONTENTS.

dado, wall-vail,
structural

and panels their relative


and their effects

frieze, cornice, pilasters,

value Various proportional

divisions

Practical considerations in
" Level" and "drop" repeats explained,
30 Some methods of verifying " repeats," p. 31 The colouring of
wall-papers The nature of patterns best suited to the process of
block printing, p. 33 The frieze
structure and ornamental
treatment, p. 35 Borders
their relation to panels
their uses
and general treatment,^, yi The setting out of ornamental borders
on structural lines considered, p. 46 Pilasters their structural
value and their decoration, p. 50 The different methods of setting
out ornament on pilasters compared The proportional, spacing
upon the appearance of rooms,/. 27

designing wall-papers,/. 28

p.

its

and the distribution of elements employed illustrated,/. 52


The cornice and mouldings their composition and decoration, p. 53
The horizontal surfaces of a room, ceiling and floor, p. 55 The
function of ceilings and their suitable decoration
different
methods of setting out, p. 56 Arched, domed, and coffered ceilings,
p. 59 The characteristics of the floor surface Decoration by
out,

parquetry and
reference

Oriental

to

carpets,

designs

pointed out, p. 63

room, p.

60 Lines and

expression of

the

carpet

p.

even

flatness

over European

Harmony

tones

ones

considered

in

Superiority

of

The

between the walls and

difference
floor of

64.

CHAPTER

III.

Methods of Expression
Expression by

line,

66

by surface massing or spacing, and by relief-

Outline for the expression of


surface quantities, modelling

The

form, painting for expression of

and carving

importance of good outline, p. 67

use of outline
in outline

Schools

The

right

drawing,/.

for the expression of

and wrong use of thick and

68 Brush

bulk

Mr. Ruskin on the proper

expression

thin lines

neglect of

Japanese power of drawing developed

it

in

Art

by the early use of

CONTENTS,
PAGE

the brush

Quotation

Different

p. 72

from Mr. Ruskin on the use of the brush,

methods

work

in brush

juxtaposed, and superposed tones, p. 75

work

The

graduated,

and carved

two distinctive kinds, p. 76 Different degrees of relief


on relief work, p. 77 Relief work in relation

effect of lighting

to material

and

Uniform,

Modelled

silver,

terra-cotta, light

p. 80

Relief work

and dark woods, bronze,

iron,

heightened by colour, p. 82

work with the ground perforated, p. 83 Pierced work


and its influence on other forms of decoration, p. 84
sgraffito, and gesso decoration,^. 85.

gold

Relief

principles

Stencilling,

of,

CHAPTER

IV.

Elements of Ornament
The elements

of

'

ornament

87
classified

Geometrical

elements,

frets,

etc., p. 88.

CHAPTER

V.

Architectural Elements

90

The influence of Architecture on Orna The modification of architectural details to suit

Definition of Architecture

mental Art, p. 91

purposes illustrated by a comparison of the Greek and

special

Roman

Doric columns, p. 92

The

importance of studying Archi-

Ornamental
origin
The volute scroll
and
modifications in ornament Architectural forms in ironwork
the baluster, broken pediment,
p. 96 Cartouches,
their origin and use in ornament, p. 99 The development of the
cartouche from cut paper Historical examples of the modification
of the cartouche Combination of the cartouche with strap work,
tecture

Principles

details derived

derived from Architecture, p. 94

from the same source

its
:

p, 100.

etc.,

its

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

VI.
PAGE

Industrial Elements

The

101

difference between architectural

and

one of

is

The

ornamental employment

aesthetic,

mnemonic, and symbolic

degree rather than principle, p. 102


of industrial objects classified

industrial elements

Terms explained, examples given and described The difference


108 The use of

between a monogram and a cipher explained,


draperies, knots,

and ribbons

mentsThe flying ends

in

p.

grouping tools and musical instru-

of ribbons

their treatment,/.

examples of the decorative grouping of armour,

CHAPTER

10 Historic

tools, etc., described.

VII.

Vegetable Elements

112

Plants should not have a literal interpretation

Gardiner Wilkinson
leaves

and the

The

Quotation

from

life-history of plants, p.

113 Personal research

Natural ornamental "start-points" versus

and

its

ones Different

artificial

forms of roots and their ornamental treatment

The

ornament,

application to

principle of

p. 116

The

importance of studying the growth of plants, branches, stems,

Abstracted
built

lines

from

trees, leaves,

flowers,

up upon them,/. 118 Patterns based upon

from cloud and wave forms,

p. 121

sycamore, ash, and horse-chestnut,

growth

and

and

Bud

p. 122

in

114

the natural world for motives and suggestions essential,/.

natural growth

Sir

necessity of studying the ideal forms of

etc.

and ornaments

lines abstracted

forms in spring

lilac,

The principle of flower-

the suggestiveness of the different forms of inflorescence

their application to ornament, p. 124

of seed vessels, p.
character, p. 129

126 Sea- weeds and


The decorative value

The
shells

decorative quality
:

of fungi

their

ornamental

and mosses

lesson from the study of ferns under the microscope, in the enrich-

ment of surface by the superposition of detail,/. 131


lines in cut wood,/. 132
The revival and decadence

foliage

Ornamental
of "acanthus"

characteristics of Renaissance, Louis Quatorze, " Rococo,"

and Louis Seize foliage,/. 134 The festoon its origin, principles,
and various treatments historical examples described,/. 137.
:

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

xiii

VIII.
PAGE

Animal Elements
The

142

early use of animal forms in decoration

ment, p. 143

Animals

in

animal creations in Art explained


Phoenix,

The

their symbolic

Egyptian and Assyrian Art

Chimsera,

Griffin,

employ-

Fabulous
Dragon,

Winged Sea-Horse, etc., p. 144


using animals in ornament The necessity of

Pegasus, Sea-Horse,

difficulty

of

analysing animal forms for the ornamental lines existing in their


composition, p. 148

ornament

Birds

The

amalgamation of animal forms with

ornament

in

their decorative value

of the ornamental treatment of quadrupeds

Wings

Examples

and birds described,

and feather arrangement Comand bat, p. 152 Historic examples


of the application of wings to human figures and animals, and of
Decoration on the plumage
their ornamental treatment, p. 154

p. 150

structure

their

parison of the wings of a bird

of birds suggesting the setting out of ornament

and described, p.
moths,

etc.,

p. 158

arrangement of

56

The

Fishes

fins,

and

Snakes and lizards

examples given

as decorative material:

typical forms,

the ornamental treatment of fishes,^. 160

their use in

decorative value of insects, butterflies,

ornament,^. 161.

CHAPTER

IX.

The Human Figure


The

162

Ornamental Art

influence of the figure element in

Method

of

studying the figure for ornamental purposes and for composition of

The necessity of analysis mistakes in drawing pointed


164 Application of the figure to the filling of spaces,/. 167

line,^. 163
out, p.

Demi-figures
origin,^. 170

p.

terminating in foliage, reasons

Composition of figures with

172 Figures used

as architectural supports

mones, Termini,^. 174

Application of

human and

partly animal

and probable

Caryatides, Tela-

wings to the human form

the Egyptian and Assyrian methods, p.


partly

for,

and without ornament,

176 Fabulous

their symbolic

creatures,

meanings explained,

p. 177.

,-

'-

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

X.
PAGE

The Evolution of Industrial Objects Cups,


The

origin of vessels of capacity

Vases, Etc.

cups and vases,/. 183

...

Modification

of an elementary form for receiving water from a spring, to the

purposes of easy

transit, p.

184

Early

stages in the development

of the beaker from a natural type, p. 185


further enrichment of their forms
p. 186

The

alteration

Various forms of beakers described,/.

characteristics
p. 189

by

and development

Methods

reasons for the


of outline,

188

Hanaps

the stem, knop, cover,

and

etc.,

their

finial,

of enrichment arising out of the nature of the

material in which these vessels were wrought, p.

190 Description

of

various forms of hanaps belonging to different periods, p. 193

Vases

how developed and

the contour of vases


p.

194 Illustrations

their characteristics

by subdivision

The

of various forms

of

Enrichment

effect

of

of mouldings,

vases described

The

development of carafes and bottle shapes, p. 196 The chalice


developed from the primitive bowl form Reasons for the raised
stem, introduction of the knop, the extension of the base,

shaping of
the chalice

its

plan, p.

197 The enrichment

Description

of examples,/. 200

How jugs and ewers

appear to have been developed The development of the

a spout form, /. 201


/. 202

and the

of the various parts of

lip into

The application of handles to pouring vessels,

Different forms of jugs and ewers described, p. 204


Tankards and flagons developed from covered beakers
Their

characteristics, /. 205

described, /. 206

Various

Classification

forms of tankards, and a flagon


of

handles belonging to hollow

and carrying purposes The essential


parts of handles from which decoration is developed, /. 208 The
object of tracing the development of the foregoing varieties of cups,
etc.
To the designer Nature should be the source of inspiration

vessels, for lifting, pouring,

How

natural forms should

be used, p.

210 Varieties

obtained by adopting the natural methods of

of form

lateral, vertical,

and

182

CONTENTS.

partial expansion,

details of

and the use of controlling shapes

a complex form, p. 212

and contrast necessary

Proportion,

to regulate the

stability,

to pleasant proportion, repose,

variety,

and unity-

Four different ways of

Stability, true and

Proportion in laying out decoration, p. 214


setting out surface decoration on vases

On

the use of figures as supports in industrial objects,^. 215.

false

INIVERSIT

LIST OF PLATES.

PLATE

PAGE

i. Diagrams

of Diapering, Chequering,
Panelling, Spotting, and Powdering

ii.Varieties of

Striping,

Formal Diapers

12

in.The Development of Free Diapers


iii#.

15

Method of arranging the Pattern of a Free Diaper

iv. Historic Diapers, and their Construction

16
17

v. Designs illustrating the application of Chequering,


Spotting, Striping, and Panelling to defined
spaces

18

vi. Stripe Patterns applied to Curtains


vii.

viii.

25

Horizontal

and Vertical Divisions of the Wall


Surface of Rooms

Historic Examples of Friezes and Pilasters

...

ix. Designs showing the relation of Borders to Panels

55

XL Classification
xil Decoration of

53

3>

3)

of Borders according to treatment


Ceilings

26

39

43
44
48
57

LIST OF PLATES.
PLATE
xiii.

PAGE

Diagrams

showing the right and wrong Decorative


Treatments of Floors, Parquetry, and Carpets

6i

xiv. Illustrations of Line, Brush, and Relief Expression,


and the right and wrong treatments of pierced

Work

71

xv. Examples of Ornament expressed by the direct


use of the Brush
xvi. Effect of Lighting on Relief-work

75

79

Examples of Architectural Details, and of Ornaments DERIVED FROM THEM, ETC

93

xviil Examples of Ribbons, Knots, and the development


of Cartouches from Cut Paper

97

xvii.

xix. Historic Examples of Cartouches


xx.

xxi.

Symbols and
Ciphers

Mnemonic

Signs,

98

Monograms,

and
105

Historic Examples of the use of Industrial Objects


in

Decoration

109

Diagrams of Roots, and their O rnamental Treatment


xxiii. Drawings of Trees, Clouds, and Waves, and of
xxii.

Ornaments derived from them, etc

i i

117

Ornamental Lines abstracted from Leaves and


Flowers, and their Ornamental Use

119

xxv. Sketches from Nature, from which the lines on


THE PRECEDING PLATE WERE TAKEN

120

xxvi. Spring Leaf-buds of the Lilac, Horse Chestnut,


Sycamore, and Ash Trees

123

xxiv.

xxvii.

Diagrams

of the Inflorescence of Plants, and of


their application to ornament

xxvi ii. Various Fruit-forms suitable for

Ornament

...

125
127

LIST OF PLATES.

xix

xxix. Sketches of Sea-weeds and Shells

129

xxx. Drawings of Fungi and Mosses from Gerard's


"Herbal"

130

xxxl Drawings from Ferns under the

Microscope, in
illustration of Natural Decoration by Spotting,
Striping, etc.

133

xxxii. Sketches of Historic Ornament, illustrating the


Development and Decadence of Acanthus Foliage
xxxiii.

Examples

of Festoons, Greek, Roman, and Italian

xxxiv. Fabulous Animals, etc

135

140
145

xxxv. Examples of the Composition of Quadrupeds and


Birds with Ornament
...
xxxvi. Wings and Wing Structure

151

153

xxxvil Historic Examples of the Application of Wings


to Human and Animal Forms

155

of a Snake, Lizard, and Insect The


Markings on a Butterfly's Wing and the Plumage
of Birds, with their Ornamental Application...

157

xxxviii. Drawings

xxxix. Fishes, with their Ornamental Treatment

...

xl. Analytic Lines of the Human Figure


xli.

Examples

of the Adaptation
variously shaped spaces

of

xLii. Examples of the Composition of the

159
165

Figures

to
1

69

Human Figure

with and without ornament, and of figures


as Structural Supports
xli 11.

Sketches of fabulous

Human Creatures

xliv. Illustrations of the Development of the Beaker

xlv. hanaps of different periods


xlvi.

Vases

of different Periods and Countries

173

179
187
19

195

LIST OF PLATES.

xx
PLATE

xlvii.

Chalices,

PAGE

with Diagrams of Development

199

xlviil Ewers and Jugs of various shapes; Diagrams of


Lips and Lines of Composition

xlix.Tankards and Flagon

203

Illustrations of Orna-

mental Handles

207

l. Examples of Vases, etc., derived from Nature


Diagrams illustrating Proportion and the
methods of setting out Ornament on Vases ...

213

INTRODUCTORY.

a former work, " Lessons on Decorative Design,"

IN
I

art,

endeavoured to show the origin of decorative

that

it

mainly arose out of construction, and that

subsequent developments

were the

of

result

the en-

deavours to combine with inventive forms other details

borrowed from Nature by the active co-operation of

The book

being

an elementary one, the student's attention was

only

man's imitative and inventive powers.

invited
either

to

In

further of

considered.
in

ff

consideration

composed of simple

geometrical
world.

the

character,

the

and

Some

decorative

art

constructive

derived

or

following

these,

ornamental

of

also

pages
of

from
I

elements,

forms

the vegetable

propose

others

of

not

to

treat

previously

of the latter claim a higher rank


;

the

principles

advocated

in
B

the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.


book

earlier

also

will

be

more

and

applied

fully

elucidated.

The

history of

ornament shows

main based upon construction,

it

that,

while

in the

it is

has been largely and

splendidly developed by the addition of a vast

number

of elements derived from every part of the natural world.

Modern

decorative art has, however, been

depend upon natural objects


constant peril of losing

danger

ment

arises,

not so

its

made

for its material that

so to
it is

much from

in

This

essential characteristics.

the fact of the employ-

of natural forms, as from the temptation to indulge

in realism

temptation due to the great advance

The

in imitative art.

made

principle of irregularity, the chief

characteristic of the picturesque, has thus

been unduly

emphasized to the almost complete neglect of the principle


of order, which

is

the basis of decorative art inherited

from construction.
in

tion

ornamental

Giving way to the imitative temptaart

leads

to various

Observe, for instance, the decoration of


rooms, the walls, ceilings, doors,

etc.,

bad

results.

many modern

covered, in childish

wilfulness, with a variety of realistic " patterns."

the effect produced


ture,"

it

"new deparany one who really

may be regarded

will suggest, to the

mind of

While

as a

possesses but an elementary knowledge of ornamental


art,

that the pictorial treasures of the household

deserted their proper boundaries, and settled

down

have
in

INTRODUCTORY.
haphazard fashion
"

place for everything, and everything in

A careful
in

its

maxim,

in utter disregard of that useful


its

place."

study of the development of

art, particularly

many

a false notion

stages, will

earliest

correct

respecting this matter, and will tend,

more than anything

towards the formation of

Another good

else,

be obtained by such study


first

principles,

forms

i.e.

style.

be a clearer perception of

will

the causes which have led to certain

Industrial designers are so

in art.

to

accustomed to

the elaborate decorative objects which are current, that

the reasons for the particular forms they have assumed are
rarely sought after; and,

old purpose, a
is

mere

if

new design

lamp

wanted

for

new

pattern.

Take an

from the time of the transition of the old

modern

to the

an

alteration or rearrangement of parts

held to be sufficient to effect a

illustration

is

gasalier.

oil

This

transition occurred about forty years

ago,

when gas was

planting
houses.

sup-

as an illuminant in private

oil

The

lamp were

gradually

constituents of the oil

body with projecting

arms and chains

for

suspending from r~

the ceiling, in the centre a reservoir to

hold the supply of


feed the burners

oil,

with outlets to

by gentle and regular percolation

Here the conditions attached

to the use of oil

(see a).

were well
B 2

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.


met.

But,

when gas had

to grasp the

to

be used, the designers

new

nature of the

conditions,

failed

and simply

adapted the old and current form of lamp, retaining parts

They

that were wholly unnecessary.

down
oil

the centre, through the obsolete

a gas box under-

reservoir, with

neath

were

introduced a tube

from

this

gas box smaller tubes

laid in the arms, whilst the taps,

for turning

on the

gas,

were awkwardly

placed at the top (see

AC

designer
liarities

plying
that

serve

the

double purpose

lamp and conveying the


necessarily horizontal as

and

(3) a tap to turn

all

a tube which

(i)

in

on and regulate the


for

the

oil

lamp,

There

light.

chains or vase, or for

arm was

technically

Doubtless economic reasons had something to

do with the retention of these useless forms,


would naturally be desirous of

u patterns."
that,

of sup-

of suspending the

was required

retaining the form of "spout," as the

facturers

gas, (2) projecting arms, not

would be no reason either

called.

mode

he would have seen that

was absolutely necessary were

would

if

had considered the pecu-

of gas and the


it,

Now,

b).

But

when new

old lines of the

this

does not explain

as

manu-

utilising

all,

for

we

old
find

patterns were made, they ran upon the


oil

lamp, and that the useless parts were

INTRODUCTORY.

repeated
chain,

made

in

for

more or

instance,

less objectionable form.

whose

office

of flimsy stamped metal, and was

as before

was gone, was

hung

in the place

convicted sham, unable to support any

moderate weight.

Although many of the parts came to

be regarded as superfluous,
they were given up.

show

real

The

Even

it

is

how slowly
hour many gasaliers

astonishing

to this

the survival of the vase-shaped reservoir

vival, not of the fittest, but of the reverse.

sur-

CHAPTER

I.

ELEMENTARY FORMS AND METHODS OF ARRANGEMENT.

WHILE

proposed

is

it

the

direct

an elementary stage

of lessons

and

to

former

now

it

in

elementary

In Chapter

will

advanced

to

be necessary to revert

order to

make

the

course

entered upon as complete as possible,

emphasize, more

connected with

the present treatise to


attention

student's

studies in decorative art,


to

in

fully

work

than the limits of the

allowed,

certain

particulars

this part of the subject.


II.

of " Lessons on Decorative

Design"

was shown the method of evolving patterns from a


of crossed

lines

and attention was directed

development of forms

for

analysis of those forms,

basis

to

the

enclosing ornament, to

the

and

to the lines

the purposes of rearrangement.

From

involved for

this part of

our

FORMS AND METHODS OF ARRANGEMENT.


subject

we propose

on a network of
inclinations

to start.

The

lines crossing

may be enumerated

simple forms generated

each other at different


as follows

first,

those

which result from tracing along the lines placed at right


angles to one another and at

equal distances, the square and


the diamond or lozenge, aa
secondly, the inclusion of
or

more squares of the

work,

oblongs,

bb

net-

thirdly,

two

figures

produced by the use of oblique

lines

^25D

^=

cutting across the squares and oblongs,

TRIANGLES.

Lines placed

vertical ones, thus

Lines placed

ones, give

at

the

an angle of

at

45

30,

and crossed by

yield the

hexagon.

crossed by vertical and horizontal

octagon

Next

come

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.


certain rectilinear ornamental lines, deducible from the

network

such

CHEVRON

Or

as

embattled

the

ZIGZAG

-4-1

BLUNTED

the

Sr^

th<

the INTER

ZIGZAG

LAC

and

fret

the

The

softening

of

preceding figures and lines gives us a curved

The octagon becomes

a circle

the

the

series.

oblong

and some proportions of the lozenge are transformed


intO ELLIPTICAL

while

the

gives the

are

F~

combination of the
l

changed

MEANDER

SHAPES

1
into

oval.

The

the

wave

xnru

ellipse

'

and

embattled

and scallop

the

and

circle

zigzag

FORMS AND METHODS OF ARRANGEMENT.


The

scallop, placed in series,

produces the scale pattern

to

which the term imbrication-

is

applied.

The

becomes

fret

which, according to the method of arrangement, gives the

WAVE

/c)/?)/?)

The

interlacing

meander

is

r RUNNING SCROLL
altered

into

and

linear

network, similar results will

addition,

other ornamental

directly evolved

such

double

wave

a basis of

as the

be obtained

elements

chain

will

but,

be more

C3JZSZ5

t ^ie

GUILLOCHE

CABLE
Here, then, we have,

in

brief,

etc.

most of the elemental

forms and lines which are found to be constant


styles of

ornamental

are supported.
Plate X.
lines

or

of upon the basis of a recti-

circles

in

/c)VQ/c)

By working upon

^XTZZ>CZZ>C
ellipses, instead

art,

and upon which elaborate

Illustrations

of this will

in

all

details

be found on

Again, the method adopted for developing

and forms from a network can also be used

to

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

io

demonstrate some of the methods of laying out ornament.

By

obtain,

by simple

as

simply

diapering

omitting

i,

squares

fill

between

intervals

chequering

get

10,

show the

combined.

the

fillings

(see

principle of

In

we

allowing

two

obtain

modes of arrangement, known

but similar,

in the

we

diapering

spotting and powdering

we

2,

Figs, 8, 9,

and

chequering

further,

Figs,

alternate

Figs. 6 and 7)

larger

repetition,

(see

mesh we
an arrangement known
By
I.).
3, 4, 5, Plate
square

each

in

filling

(see

Figs. 19, 20, 21, 22).

spaces in rows, leaving rows of voids,

get striping (Figs.

11,

12,

13,

and

14),

as
If

we

narrower and

broader varieties being distinguished by the terms lining

and banding.
illustrated

The

character of lining will be better

by simply emphasizing only one

cross lines of the network.


directions
striping
out,

we have

and banding leads

will

now

done

in

two

18).

The

use of

method of laying

to another

(see Figs. 15, 16, 17).

detail

ranging patterns.

of the

this is

the plaid (Fig.

namely, panelling

We

When

set

some of these systems of

ar-

This consists of

First, the Diaper,

a repeated pattern, closely fitting and covering a surface

without intervals
formal character

it

its

is

an " all-over

"

arrangement of

severer forms consist in the details

of the pattern being confined to the allotted spaces, and

not

overrunning their boundaries.

The fundamental

Plate

l2"

STRIPING & BHNDN6

m M m IS m n
M m n M El M E
m
m
is
m
m
m
m
M
m
IfS m is mm is
11

1(9

"*

ST^oxTirs^

gr

14-

m m m
m mmm m
m m m
HI
mmm umm
m m m
u
m wm m
m
m
m
w m JH m m m %

"RMfNeL-UltxlG*

-poujoer<\rsic^.

CJNIVERSIT'
PALI FOFtNlA-

I.

XJ\

W G>

&

Plate

II.

FORMS AND METHODS OF ARRANGEMENT.

may be

forms

forms can be used


as closely fitting

and

any shape,

of

in

same

the

Figs.

These may be accented or

II.).

require, or

may be

case

should

care

1,

2,

3,

not, as occasion

exercised

to

be

Plate

may

In the latter

abolished altogether.

be

alternating

diaper, but should

possible (see

as

two

13

keep the pattern

compact.

The

diaper, like

the

subject

the

first

many

and

of alteration

modifications of

one space

the

consists in

known

composing

as the " free-all-over."


first,

formal

the

ornaments contained within a


Figs.

II.,

running out of

This

it.

development of a kind

last in the

changes are as follow:

form (Plate

of

more exact diaper was gradually

extended, and ended at

sisting of

it

One

development.

into another the pattern

departure from

of pattern

ornaments, has been

other

1,

2,

3)

The

various

diaper

con-

rigid geometrical

secondly, diapers

in

which the pattern runs out of one figure into another


(Figs.

4 and 5)

thirdly,

when

the boundaries of the

structural figures are

ornamented as well as the enclosed

space (Figs. 6 and

7).

In other forms of diaper the

are

placed

fundamental

forms

at

intervals,

and the

pattern runs out of them into the interspaces (Plate III.,


Fig.

1).

we have

When, however,

the formal shapes are abolished,

a type of surface decoration called the " free-

all-over," in contradistinction to the formal "all-over" or

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

14

strict

diaper (Plate III., Figs. 3 and

well to observe

that,

although

Here

4).

be

will

kind of pattern

this

in

it

work the geometric forms are ultimately eliminated, yet


their

employment
and

construction,

designing

in
is

necessary to proper

is

important

an

aid

accurate

to

repetition.

These geometric forms need


the

direction of the

not,

of the

lines

however, control
as

filling,

where the figures are retained, because they


appear as elements
less, as

in the

has been shown,

completed design.
in the

cases

in

not

will

Neverthe-

elementary lessons,

it is

often well to adopt a sympathetic relation of lines to the

On

figures used.

Plate IV. are given historic examples

Striping or banding

of diapers and their construction.

need not be limited to mere


this

arrangement

is

lines

what

The

it

need not be continuous,

intervals,

required for

that the " repeat" shall take a hori-

zontal, vertical or oblique direction.

prising

is

it

The pattern commay be interrupted.

however, should be small,

idea of the arrangement should be

lest

the dominant

The main

lost.

dif-

ference between spotting and powdering lies


in scale

r*i

pattern.

i.e.,

in the

The

proportion of ground to

detail of the spot should

large and important, and have

more

be

interest

than the unit of the powdering, which should be small

and of simple character.

Powdering

is

very often used

Plate

t % t^^^mi/^ iJZNii^j

III.

^oT

Plate

IIIa.

v.o.3

Plate IV.

Plate V.

*5ftS?/^

Kl'Sfetii

Si
i

as^m^i

sSs
,

li*

-q:

,y

lit

FlGs

9_

.:-

Pi

FORMS AND METHODS OF ARRANGEMENT.


in

conjunction with the spot (as in Plate

and

where

22),

values

relative

their

Figs. 21

I.,

are

illustrated.

This background method of using powdering

mind other plans


cation (seen

often substituted for

Plate V.,

in

Fig.

it,

19

to

calls

namely, imbri-

and vermiculation.

6)

Vermiculation consists of a minute running


pattern, sometimes developed into fine scroll

work, and

at

is

others -brightened by the

Without further extending

addition of small spots.


part

of

the

subject,

it

will

methods of arrangement

be obvious that

of various combinations, and


in

that

space like

defined
the

" compose
Plate

Y.

outer

are

them with

"

an

is

central spot
for the

spots

example

vertical

"

"

and

panel.

united

the

capable

are

Fig.

by a

and horizontal

purpose of securing unity.

so

line

Fig.

by a

decoration

lines are

Fig.

treatment

pilasters.

In

sometimes

is

Fig.

is

found

on

as

to

on

large

included

is

a long

narrow space decorated by three spots united by


This

"

be seen

will

It

powdering

boundaries.

of

together

Plate V.).

{see

the application of " spotting

the

all

of being used

one and the same design

shows
to

named

already

this

lines.

panels

of

given an illustration of the

application of the stripe and spot to the decoration of

a rectangular

figure.

The two

extremities of the stripe

are blended into the border to give completeness to the


c 2

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

2o

pattern and to prevent

longer piece.

if

cut out of a

we have another

treatment of

its

In Fig. 7

appearing as

the stripe and spot, and in Fig.

an arrangement of

oblique stripes for the decoration of a panel.

and 8

the

illustrate

application

panels of different proportions.


is

somewhat modified

in

Figs. 5

of the " chequer" to


In Fig: 5 the chequer

order to centralise the interest

without destroying the essential character of the chequer.


Fig. 6 shows a combination of the spot and imbricated

ornament within a

Figs.

circle.

9,

10,

and 12

illustrate

panelling resulting from striping variously applied and

accordance

in

decorated.
Fig.
is

10

with

Fig. 9

is

the

proportion

spotting

Examples of decoration

may be

seen

spaces

while Fig.

stripes,

formed from vertical and horizontal

disposed.

the

from the use of oblique stripes,

mainly from vertical

is

of

12

stripes equally

by striping

on many natural

objects,

and
such

as plants, butterflies, feathers, shells, and in the graining

of wood,

Chapter

etc.
II.,

(see

page

Plate

XXXVIII. and

headpiece to

22).

In the study of the historic styles of ornament,

be observed that

all

these

methods, as well as the

elementary lines which were engendered


stages

of

art,

occur again

or

country.

However

in the earliest

and again throughout

subsequent developments of decoration,

age

will

it

all

whatever the

dissimilar the styles

may

FORMS AND METHODS OF ARRANGEMENT.


at

first

the

and

sight

appear, careful

fundamental
that

originality,

even
still

lines

show

and principles are the

modern
shapes

analysis will

itself

those of prehistoric times

with

art,

on

lines

all

its

21

that

same,
boasted

no newer than

CHAPTER

II.

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

HAVING

viewed and

methods common
student's

them.
out

Suitability

engage

some

to

any

his attention.

we

little

re-

lines

and

the

will

now

direct the

applications

purpose

must

be

being very appropriate for

altogether

inappropriate

surface of a wall.

For

this

when

uniform

flatness,

the

evenness of surface when

other
in

the

to

may
the

and a curtain
one

flexibility

use.

textile,

purpose,

applied

instance, a wall

both possess distinct characteristics

and

first

consideration will soon

convince him that the method of decorating a


while

of

method of laying

of a

special

briefly

of

practical

or fitness

for

chapter

most

classified

to ornament,

attention

decoration

previous

the

in

These

stiffness

and

un-

qualities

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

23

when applying ornament


same way would be to sin

should be taken into account


to

both

decorate

against

the

Hence

it

the

in

natural

law of "fitness" and

suitability.

must appear that those methods that

will

accent the qualities of stability and flatness will be the

most appropriate

for wall decorations

and any method

that will accent the quality of flexibility, or emphasize

the folds of the material, will be best adapted to the

As

enrichment of curtains.
in

a general rule, therefore,

patterns for walls no particular direction should be

expressed

i.e.,

tendency to

and

stripes,

such patterns should not exhibit any

develop

hence

horizontal,

the

methods

comprise diapering, powdering,


panelling.

vertical,

or

oblique

decoration

will

" free-all-overing,"

and

of

While modifications of some of these are

allowable for curtains, patterns having certain decided


directions,

such

as

may be

included

under the heads

of horizontal and oblique striping, are more distinctly


suitable.

These

kinds

of

patterns,

by crossing

the

folds

of the material, bring out, so to speak, the modelling

of the surface, developing curves of exceeding beauty,

such as were not preconceived by the designer


VI.).

{see Plate

Vertical stripe patterns are less suitable, as their

application tends to confuse, instead of emphasizing, the


folds {see Plate VI., a, Fig. 4).

Again, the scale of the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

24

ornament used

is

an important matter.

The

patterns

should be designed for and adjusted to the size of the


folds into

As

which the material naturally

the

large

folds

of heavy textiles require bold

and the narrow

patterns,

folds of lighter

ones smaller

question becomes one of the right propor-

details, the

tioning of ornament to surface

of a wide application to

For

falls.

all

and

admits

this principle

kinds of surface decoration.

instance, in the case of wall decoration, presently

to be considered, the surfaces of important

rooms should

have patterns comprising large masses, while the orna-

ment of small rooms should be


the scale of patterns, there

be observed
into

for,

as soon as

Besides

order of distribution to

we begin

to divide a surface

compartments, with the object of giving

distinct

additional interest to

any scheme of decoration, we have

to consider the nature

and

is

less in scale.

and

relative value of each part,

For

to apply the decoration consistently therewith.

example,

is

it

usual to divide the wall of a

dado, wall-vail,

plinth,

frieze,

vening mouldings and borders

room

and cornice, with


(see

into

inter-

Plate VII., Fig.

i).

This arrangement of parts suggests different structural


values

and

recognition

ornament

their relations to

when
at

distributing

our command.

one another require due


the

various

The

parts

classes

having

of
the

greatest structural value should receive the most severe

Plate VI.

Plate VII.

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.
and formal ornamentation

The dado

turesque.

while those that are of the

most

importance the freest and

structural

least

27

being the support of the wall

from an architectural point of view, the most


and, therefore, to
decoration.

To

Sometimes

given.

Plate VII., Fig.

wall-vail loses

may

its

to the

When

uniform value

above

hori-

such as pilasters,

these are added the

the spaces between the

less essential

than before, and

therefore with propriety be decorated with orna-

mentation more or
the

3).

members become

upright

essential,

should be apportioned the severest

it

zontal divisions are added vertical ones


etc. (see

structural

stiffly treated;

less inclining to the pictorial

uprights

Some

and

people

pilasters

may

one,

in

laying

out

the

wall

while

be more

should

object to this assump-

of a possible construction, other

tion

space

than
but

the actual
as

long as

divisions are required in order to avoid monotony,

better

method can be devised than


of

lines

case

is,

the upper portion a freer and less rigid

may be

pattern

pic-

some

structural

and certainly

this

that of adopting the

arrangement suitable

method

no

is

in

the principle of constructive order, which

to

the

harmony with
is

the founda-

tion of decorative art.

Here

it

will

be well to

call

attention to the effect that

these methods of wall divisions have upon the appearance

of rooms.

While the use of horizontal

divisions imparts

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

28

a sense of cosiness to an apartment, they also tend to

reduce the apparent height of

and

it,

if

the upper and

lower divisions are developed at the expense of the


intermediate one, as in Fig.

marked.
Fig.

4,

this effect is

more

still

by upright panelling, as

Vertical divisions

in

give the appearance of increased height, and

2,

this effect

further accented in Fig.

is

by the use of

pilasters.

In practical pattern making, suitable to the paperstainer,

weaver,

makers,

there

industry,

and which have

the

textile

are

mere laying out

and ornamental

tile-

matters peculiar to

each

printer,

technical
to

of the

be considered,

ornament

in addition to

and the conditions

attached to each must be well understood

element

is

to

be practically expressed.

the limits of the present

it

will

While within

be impossible to

development of the several

the

the artistic

requirements which have arisen

treat of all the varied

with

work

if

trades,

be well to take one of them as a sample to


the

limitations

of

the

paper, for example.


rally
It is

made

1 ft.

io"in.

designer's

work.

it

illustrate

Take

In this country wall-paper

wil.

is

wall-

gene-

wide, and in runs of twelve yards.

usually printed from blocks having raised patterns

upon them

1 ft.

circumstances
greater

in. in

width

sometimes

the depth

it is

but a square block

less
is

is

determined by

than the width, rarely

found to be the most

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

The

convenient.

may

block

29

one

contain

more

or

"repeats," or even a section of a repeat, according to


the

scale

of pattern

repeats in a vertical direction


printings of the block

The

required.

extension of the

obtained by successive

is

the lateral extension by the paper-

hanger when he places the lengths of paper side by

The

necessary dimensions of the block

will,

side.

therefore,

control to a great extent the size and proportion of the

pattern

whether

it

takes several repeats, or a portion

of one, the pattern must be so adjusted as to ensure

accurate repetition in the two directions.

For

instance,

suppose we adopt a diamond form as the basis of a

A.
If-

FiG

Tig 3r

VG

FiG HI

repeat (as in Fig.

I.)

B$ \X

<x 00

FlO- V?

*o

TV r

-V-

however, that the use

finding,

of one only will yield a pattern too large in scale,


in

one and a half


the

affects

fundamental

and the
figures

is

also

scale,

figure.

difference

(as in

Fig.

alters

II.)

the

proportion

while
of

it

the

between the height and width of the

increased (Fig.

have either

this,

put

Arrange two within the same space,

III.).

If

it is

proportion of the example in Fig.


shall

but

we

I.

desirable that the

be kept, then we

to shorten the block (as in Fig. VI.),

or to adopt the arrangement (as in Fig. V.) which gives


smaller

repeats.

Here, then,

it

will

be seen

that in

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

30

adopting any form whereon to construct the repeat, to


a block of a given

apportioned to
or to

will

it

reduction

any variation of the number

size,

lead to alteration in proportion


If

scale.

in

the size

of the pattern

indicated by Fig.

II.

be immaterial,

in the proportion

the
to

mode

I.,

it

if

will

the alteration

be found that

of lateral repetition differs from that applicable

III.,

and V.

same

not repeat by being placed

will

i.e., it

side by side on the

fore,

be satisfactory, and

level

and, there-

the lateral repetition will have to be effected

lowering the pattern

when

fitting

by

two sections together.

A/
thus

A/

Patterns arranged for this

%
A/

way of

hanging are technically known as " Drop patterns," because the decorator has to " drop
it

on the

wall.

The
is

pattern

be seen

this will

would repeat

in the
I. is

diagrams.

Fig.

II.

The

largest

Fig. IV., although

by dropping, would not repeat


and so would be unworkable.

laterally

a vertical direction,

when pasting

the avoidance of too small a scale of

possible scale next to Fig.


it

the paper

chief object served in adopting the

" drop " principle


;

"

in

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

The

construction of wall-paper

3r

patterns on a basis

of geometrical figures, such as are here given with a

diagram of repeats,

rwv?

the

only

method

adopt

the

plan

of

paper

on which

is

not

used

cutting

the

by designers.

into

drawing

is

equal

made,

Some

sections

and

the

trans-

posing the pieces during the progress of the design.

The

former method

answers

better

for

is

most generally employed

patterns

which

are

of

but

formal

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

32

The

character.

more

the

is

undoubtedly

suitable for designs of a freer treatment, such

example (Plate

as the

method, however,

latter

III., Fig. 2).

By

this

method the

can work with greater freedom, and at the same

artist

time secure with but

little

trouble accuracy in his repeats.

The

Plate IIIa. explains the working of this method.


initial

portion of the design

the paper, or cardboard, 21

of which are
halves,
1?'

$;)

or paper

is

21

this

(as at

in the

in. (see

is

centre of

A, the corners

then cut exactly into

B), the figures reading

space between the upper and lower parts

of the pattern

into

by

in.

and then reversed

The

il*

marked

drawn

is

is

now

to

be

filled in (as at

then to be cut

down

C).

The

card

vertically, dividing

it

four equal sections, and then transposed (as at D),

figures

standing

Jj?

This, again, leaves

space, which has to be filled (as at E),

complete

the

main

lines

of

the

a central

and which

design.

will

shows

another disposition of the pieces to further test repeats.

The

transposition and re-transposition of the parts of

the pattern will

making

As

be necessary when adding details or

alterations near to the edges of them.

regards the colouring of wall-papers, the

number

of colours to be used should be regulated by the scale of


the pattern.

If

the pattern be small,

may be employed, inasmuch


details

and the number

as

several

colours

the smallness

of the

of the masses composing

it

APPLICATION OF OPMgftMlbY&nsZTY
will

cause the colours to be so interwoven and distributed

that there will be no interference with the repose which

should characterise a wall covering, whose subordinate


office

is

always to serve as a background to the general

appointments of a room.
large,

it

be well to have either fewer colours and

will

reduced

however, the pattern be

If,

in hue, or, better

still,

two or three tones of one

to limit the colouring to

colour.

It

may be

possible

to successfully employ several colours in large patterns,

by either reducing the hue or distributing the colour


lines
result

and among the smallest

may be

achieved,

details

will

it

be

in

but,

how ever
r

in

this

obedience to the

general principle that no large masses of different colours

should be used.

Now

as to the character of patterns

The natural law of


The process of printing,

suitable for printed wall-papers.

comes

fitness again

to our aid.

by which paper-hangings
repetition,

of which
for the

and not with growth, or development, neither


it

can truly represent.

most

modified by

made up

are produced, has to do with

it.

Growth

is

part with variety, as repetition


If this is so, patterns

of

of repeats

concerned
is

greatly

which are obviously

conventional type are best

adapted to block printing.

Patterns having the appear-

ance of natural grow th are

ill

adapted to the process

because, in printing, the identical masses and lines must

occur again and again throughout the decorated space

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

34

and

an attribute of

variety,

For, although

ignored.

throughout

and masses of leaves

flowers

similar

by

entire growth, yet these are modified

one

question

in

characteristics.

They

are only to be expressed by

favouring the

process
painting

we

find

process

to render these

not fitted

is

the

most

suitable

method, for the

obvious reason that by hand work variety

Hence

expressed than exact repetition.

some

In hand

of variety.

principle

its

and

variety,

the stems vary in thickness and direction.


like the

thus

is

true that a plant develops

is

it

growth,

natural

is

more

easily

the observance

of fitness of methods to the realisation of results will

us

justify

patterns

in

formulating

are best suited

process of printing,

and

the

to

that

rule,

the

mechanically repeating

naturalistic

By

method of execution by painting.

conventional

ones

to

the freer

using conventional

patterns for wall-papers, there need be no offence against

the law of fitness


there

why

is

but by adopting naturalistic ones

danger of great offence.

One

of the reasons

these latter patterns are so popular

majority of people, and

many who

call

is

that

the

themselves lovers

of nature, only extend their admiration to the flowers

and leaves of a

plant, often to the

former only, and never

turn their attention to the equally beautiful growths with


their

these

ever-varying lines

matters

received

and

exquisite

the

attention

gradations.

they

If

deserve,

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.
" pretty

floral "

be

not

35

papers, with monstrous growths, would

and would

tolerated,

and as

violations of 'nature

be

soon

discarded

as

and

sins against the natural

eternal law of fitness.

We

have now

to consider the treatment of the frieze,

or chief upper division, which decoratively bears about

same

the

column

relation to the wall as the capital does to a

and just as the

capital

is

more pronounced than

the shaft of the column, so the frieze should have


distinct

emphasis than the

possess

more

wall.

Its

more

decoration should

sake of contrast

interest, not only for the

with the lower space, but because from

its

position

it is

not likely to be interfered with by the furniture of the

room.

Its

position requires, also, that

the

decoration

should be simple and free from complex motives, so as to

be easily read.

This long horizontal division may be dealt with


four

different

ways

(1)

by

filling

-m^m% 3Sil
running pattern, or
or (3)

(2)

by a

(4)

vertical

by an arrangement of

continuous

agag

series of vertical

by a union of alternate

details, or

in

in

ornaments

and horizontal

panels.

The
D

first

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

36

method

weak

the least satisfactory and likely to produce a

is

effect

the second

better, but

is

the arrangement of the parts

monotonous, and does not

is

unnecessarily

is,

while

it

perhaps, best

for

The

combines the freedom and playfulness of the

harmonic

should

that

relation

and fourth treatments are

principle

of

construction, fas

ensures

it

sympathy with the

in

seen

the

in

3 IB IP w"

and

uprights

Taking

this

decoration,

it

IT

__^_________=s=__

~n
is

),

arrange-

in

Grecian

and give solid

be afterwards

filled

in.

arrangement as the

basis

for

interspaces
structural

the

Again, the

filling.

ment of the timbers above the architrave

architecture (thus,

the

between

exist

boundaries of the space and the


third

third treat-

general purposes, because,

and the firmness of the second,

first

and

stiff

harmonise with

sufficiently

the long lines of the enclosed space.

ment

defective, as

still

to

evident that the use of vertical stops

with lateral developments of ornamentation

is

desirable,

because the treatment most in accordance with construction

offers

the

best

w ay
T

of

securing

the

fittest

results.

Whether we
(as

in

No.

2),

lay

or

out our frieze

by

simple

stops

by an arrangement of panels

(as

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.
in

No.

open

is

it

4),

accent more or less

to

which

to

this

may be

depend on the general scheme of decoration

will

adopted

us

The degree

the structural lines.

done

to

37

be severe and dignified, then the structural

if it

divisions should be pronounced

may be

then they

examples of

but

if

and

fanciful,

Some

historic

light

treated less vigorously.

be found on Plate VIII., Figs.

friezes will

1,

Borders, again, which are used to separate the

2, 3, 4.

frieze

and dado from the

such

as

and

for other purposes,

should be treated according to

panels,

The

importance.

" filling,"

primary

office of

borders

their

to prevent

is

the patterns of contiguous surfaces from impinging one

For

upon another.
character,

it

each side,
patterns

it

reason,

a border

if

is

rich in

also requires bordering with plain lines

order to prevent

in

which

is

it

often

distinct

on

mingling with the


'

That the

between the decorated

desirable for the pattern of the border

form, tone, and colour with the pattern on

to contrast in

either side of

is

its

intended to separate.

may be made

separation
spaces,

this

i.e., if

it

vertical lines

predominate

in the

surroundings, the border should be arranged on horizontal


lines,

and

and

vice versa

colour.

and so on

in

the matters of tone

Another use of the border,

case of panels,

is

design enclosed,

especially in the

to confine attention to the subject or


in

order to

appearance of overrunning

its

prevent

proper

its

having the

limits,

and be-

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

38

coming confused with surrounding

In the case

objects.

of pictures, the application of the border or frame for

purpose

this

some

At

understood.

well

is

times, however,

painters indulge in the novelty of extending

the frame the interest of the picture


carries

its

on

to

but the practice

own condemnation, and may,

therefore, be

regarded as a freak of fashion, rather than as indicating

any enduring and guiding

Again,

principle.

in

ornamental

compositions, the border will be found of great service in


" tidying up," so to speak, any irregular decoration, and
in

rendering compact what without

Take any

and untidy.

piece of freely

it

straight lines,

and the

effect

be as evident as that

will

The

exerted by a frame on a picture.

border should be

in

subject enclosed.

If the enclosed

interest,

little

features

if,

then the border

on the contrary,

commonplace type
or printed page
in its

will

artistic

character of a

proportion to the interest of the

it is

space contains a design

may

possess attractive

occupied with a subject

of great interest, then a border of a

From an

drawn ornament,

with a border composed even only of

and surround

of

would be loose

it

more conventional or

be appropriate.

point of view, the border of a written

may be

richer

and even more

treatment than the border of a picture.

naturalistic

The

first

encloses conventional forms less interesting in appearance

than those contained in the

latter.

Borders are also

Plate VIII.
'it

a-

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

40

used not only to define spaces, but to emphasize construction


vases,

as

on the edges of

and bands on

plates,

Determining the scale of

etc.

border should possess

in

relation to

enclosure,

its

giving right proportion and value, require

ment and

careful consideration

for

that

interest

and

judg-

artistic

many

a design

is

found to be incomplete for want of due attention to

The

framing.

its

often

ineffectiveness of the whole design

from

arises

the

inappropriateness,

the

bad

proportion, or the want of weight in the border.

We
reasons
straight,

so

may

borders
it

is

for other

here observe that, though


for

wall

economic

for

paper decoration are made

not essential that they should always be

purposes and for other modes of production

they can take various forms.

There

is

no reason why

the boundaries of borders should be parallel, any

than

the

that

enclosed spaces,

which they are

with

associated, should be rectangular in shape.

may surround any


its

inner margin

may be

irregularly

is

rectangular

border

shaped space, and, while

identical therewith,
(see

more

Plate

one encloses a rectangular form,

its

outer edge

Fig.

IX.,

4)

although

margin coincides with the edge of the space,

one may present a complex and irregular

or

inner

its

outer

its

outline.

if

Then,

again, the pattern of a border need not be continuous

throughout,

but

may be

interrupted

and

for

that

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

41

may be assumed, and

purpose a construction

degrees of interest apportioned to the parts.


of

subject

margin

sufficient

a proportionate

for

method of meeting the

difficulty is to

edge within the

to the

does

space

decorated

the

filling

(see

When

the

allow

of

not

border,

draw

Plate

various

useful

lines parallel

IX., Fig.

5).

This method of supplying the want of a proper border


should be used sparingly, and only employed
other reason

exists

one of

baneful

may

lead

Not

that

to

novelty

dulged

design,
in

and

irregularity

it

with our food

so

avoided

not

be too

freely

in-

be used as we use condiments

namely,
also

use

composition.

be

to

as a stimulant.
;

irregularity

too liberal

and as a well-ordered

and a healthy constitution require but

additions,

frequent

may sometimes add piquancy

supply tends to vitiate the taste


diet

its

disorderly

should

but this

adoption than the

always

is

little

should

its

otherwise

irregular

on the contrary, a
to

to warrant

when some

little

should be but

of these
little

in

request in good ornamental composition.

This mode of making up

for the

want of

sufficient

border must not be confused with another expedient

which
line

is

for

often adopted as a matter of composition of


instance,

when

the

and contains more curves than


to

space, the introduction

filling
is

is

of a free kind,,

compatible with fitness

of right

lines

by panelling

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

42

of the

part

field

while correcting the monotony

will,

of the pattern, bring the whole composition into harmony


-^

(see Figs.

results are

somewhat

although

proceeding

and

The

B).

similar,

from

different, causes.

On
ZZ4

examples

given

are

i,

it

will

X.
of

In Plate IX.,

panels with the application of borders.


Fig.

IX. and

Plates

be seen that a broad

of similar

line

tone to the pattern of the centre gives balance and

produces unity of

effect,

Compare,

respect.

while Fig.

also,

the

is

The

weight.

as

to

is insufficient.

It is

left-hand border

weight and quantity.

values

relative

borders to the enclosed pattern, in Fig. 3

hand border

wanting

is

in this

of

the

here the right-

too meagre, and wants

more

Fig. 4

satisfactory,
is

both

an example of

a border whose inner edge follows the shape of a panel,


of which the outline
of the

border

of the panel.

is

in

not rectangular.

The

continuity

contrast with the

spot

treatment

is

This, though small in quantity as com-

pared with the mass of the border,


for

is

by adopting more interesting material

position.

The border

more commonplace.

is

subordinated to

Turning

to Plate X.,

compensated
for its
it

com-

by being

Fig.

1,

we

have an example of the wrong and right application

Plate IX.
TIG

>

fig;

FIG 7

T=&3

Plate X.

T=tct-zt

BG3

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

The ornamental

of the border.

is

border

composed

is

having the same amount of interest as

of details
the

45

of the

filling

panel

consequently,

attention

Besides, the want of a broader

divided between both.

separation between the two patterns

and the confusion

to run together,

the

in

makes them appear


thus increased that

is

resulted from using such similar material in both border

and panel.

In the border B, while

ornament,

The

formal.

the

is

it

reduced

we

between the material of

slight similarity

border and that of the panel

purpose of securing unity


while

the

is

adopted for the

the whole

in

treatment

of

difference

foliated

and rendered more

quality,

in

have

still

is

composition

employed

to

concentrate or localise interest.


In

Fig,

composition

panel

the

the

border

occupied with

is

figure

composed of elements of

is

a lower*grade conventionally treated, and

is

of interest subordinated to the centre, while

it

harmonises

with the foliage which

the group of

In Fig.

figures.

interesting

forms

we

ornamental

for the panel.

is

start

curved

lines,

with,

elements

to

perhaps,

namely,

we

lines.

The

least

geometrical

adopt, for the contiguous

which are

higher

of abstract elements, as those lines possess

than right

the

point

In order to give interest, and to

maintain unity in the design,


border,

accessory

in

in

the

more

class

interest

centre filling will be subordinate

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

46

and

order to further accent unity

In

thereto.

to give firmness to the design, there

of effect,

added an

is

outer border of elements, similar as regards their rectilinear

In

character.

conventional

rendering

To

sycamore.

panel

the

(Fig.

buds

spring

the

of

and

confine the interest

we have a

4)

to

of

the

direct

the

attention to the central subject, a border of geometrical

character

is

attached

in

it

are included

some severe

forms of leaves, in order to correct any excessive contrast


that

might

lines alone,

by

echoing

from the employment of geometrical

arise

and

to bring

in

it

slight

into unity with

degree

the

the centre

same

of

class

elements.
kj

setting

out

surround panels,

it

ornamental
will

the structure of frames

to

i.e.,

of the joining and mitring

several

square

Frames are formed

ways,
(2),

by an

may form

provide decoration

the

basis

accenting

nor

that

shall

(3)

mitre,

concealing

is

of

patterns.

to enable

harmonise with

The

it.

apparently the weakest part of the


fore,

in

oblique (1),

or joggled

object of regarding construction

neither

entirely

each of which methods of joining


_,

The

that

be found advisable to consider

of the parts composing them.

**2,

borders

structure

any ornament added should appear

joint
;

one
it

is

there-

to strengthen

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

frame.

of the

part

this

For

this

reason,

it

first,

and

to apply

ornament

visable to attack the corner


in

such a

held
5, 6,

way

that

it

will

look as though

together the vertical

and

7).

47

it

grasped and

and horizontal pieces

This being done, the

ad-

is

{see

rest of the decoration

may be more freely treated on the same lines, which


may be simply repeated or reversed as the case may
and with large and small

require,
to

the

necessities

of scale

intervals according

and proportion.

Besides

which surround spaces having bound edges,

borders

there are others

which are

not so restricted, such as are


S5\

seen on the edges of china


plates,

and used as

on draperies,

stripes

laces, etc.

Of

these there are two kinds, (a) those having one bound

and one

free

edge,

(b)

those in which both edges have

free terminations.

Ornamental borders may be broadly divided

into

two

Plate XI.

pot

VeRTICAU,

HORIZONTAL
,niiim!iiininiL,

utnrmmrc

m ,

^^m

lllfflMllt'lllMlllllW

OBUOU6

HHMHHHimn

^^^A^

SiESl
m

HSU

mauuif

'.,.'!.

vmmsm
m

Wm

IB 5
fi

Ml

rara

lUOffllllll!

liiiifinf

WMSW
I.B^JI,

liMfifc

^^^
^^

v.&j

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

classes

the

interrupted and the continuous

according

out, as the

spot, vertical, horizontal,

{see

Plate

to

XL).

particular

and oblique

the

Some
be

similar

application of

and

horizontal

laying

of the lines for

seen,

to

those

upright

oblique,

and so

borders are,

out

used

friezes

for

may be

severe treatment required for a frieze

on.
will

it

but the

less im-

The somewhat

portant function exercised by a border.

and

the

them must be regulated by the

the case of a border

treat-

Additional varieties are formed

by combining the above methods;


horizontal,

these are

methods of laying

subdivided

ment

49

relaxed in

may

the regular outline of the one

be, as already explained, departed from in the other.

Besides horizontal borders, there are vertical ones.

Under

head may be included

this

Vertical borders are for the

upright divisions of surface.

most part

identical with horizontal ones

panels,' resulting

speaking, borders

them under

this

them somewhat

that

character.
;

regular repetition of parts, and


alteration of pattern.
;

pilasters

and

we

not, strictly

shall consider

head, and that their proportion gives

difference between the two

so arranged

lines

from their use, are

notwithstanding that

same

the

Decorated

can often be used in both.

narrow

and other

pilasters

there

is

There

just

this

border consists of

may be extended

The ornament on
less

is

repetition

without

a pilaster

is

not

the parts are disE

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

5o

posed evenly but not

The

equally.

proportion and

extent of the panel being determined at the outset, the


limit of the pattern

is

thus fixed, and the pattern becomes

While many of the

a complete organic whole.

used for horizontal and other borders


used for the decoration of

lines

and have been,

are,

pilasters, subject to certain

modifications arising from the needs of adaptation, there


are

systems which appear to have

four

adopted

generally

when

(i)

been more
;

the elements of the

design are built up

and

when they
in

a cord or ribbon
spirals

and

(4)

central

are

is

(2)

together

(3)

These arrangements are

and a moment's

reflection will
artistic values.

of suitability requires that the use to which an

put should be taken into account

ornament

The

office

of pilasters

masses or support weights

therefore,

applied to
It will at

stalk

tied

enable us to determine their relative and

object

disposed

when arranged upon a succession of


when based upon " wave " lines crossing

less satisfactory

The law

stages

bunches and suspended by

and recrossing a central stem.

more or

in

symmetrically

around

namely,

to

it.

when applying
is

to strengthen

any decoration

them should harmonise with these

functions.,

once be seen that the leading lines upon which

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.
2

and 3 are constructed render them

decoration

No.

than

of a support

less suited to the

Nos.

being decidedly structural

1,

and

in

a conventional treatment of the

setting

out a design for

on

pilaster

architectural

elements are

will

In

details.

principle,

this

care must be taken to have the axis strong

purpose

Again,

4.

arrangement,

require

51

and

for this

admirably

suited.

Horizontal lines should be so disposed at intervals as to

harmonise with the short boundaries of the space, to


serve as start-points and as

ties,

The

empha-

to further

which a composition of

size the quality of strength,

kind should possess.

and

foliage that

this

may be used

to

decorate these main structural lines should be firm and

The secondary
and graceful. They should

should have a certain rigidity of character.


structural lines should be firm

compose
but

may

smaller

well with the boundaries

carry
filling,

struction, can

foliage

less

and with one another,

severe

having nothing

to

in

character;

do with

the

may be introduced into the still less


By observing some such rule as is here

for the distribution of the different qualities of

we

con-

be free and playful, and even naturalistic

elements
parts.

the

essential

indicated

ornament,

are enabled to import into our work, by an orderly

method, variety of treatment and, therefore,

interest.

Again, the proportion of the panel of the pilaster should

be regarded

in the

spacing out of the ornaments


E

tall

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

52

divisions are decidedly inharmonious.

point

iM

tall

starting-

essential as the key-note of

is

the composition

Mf
kWI-

Fig. b the

In

divisions should prevail, as in Fig. a.

5. 6, 7. 8,

and

(^

VI 1 1.,

Plate

Figs.

9).

The second method,

in

which the

materials of the design are suspended,


is

mands

a less symmetrical treatment

The masses
larger
Fig. a.

Fig. b.

The

arranged.

on either plan
used at the

will

be

and there

will

in the lines

will

start,

first

proportionally

be

less variety

on which the

details are

distribution of the elements of a design

be similar

i.e.,

whatever element

is

should be repeated, in some degree,

throughout the composition and


taking the

and consequently de-

less structural,

we

plan

at the

start at the

member, other

or other architectural

extremity.

If

base with a vase


details

of a like

character should be repeated in the process of building

up

and a cup or tazza

same

crown the whole

will fitly

rule applies to vegetable, animal,

This rule also applies

to

in a freer

* For
for spaces

pilasters

manner, as they have a

this reason, the

between

The

may be

long,

treated

less structural value #

hanging arrangement (No.

pilasters

the

and human forms.

tone and colour.

narrow panels occurring between

2)

is

more

than for the pilasters themselves.

suitable

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.
ornamentation

their

and,

if in relief,

may

53

towards the

incline

pictorial,

should in parts melt into the background

while the caved ornament of a pilaster should be clearly

and sharply defined on a firm and even ground.

them varying

different uses of pilasters give

values, the general decoration of

The

accordingly.

structural

be modified

will

severity necessary to a pilaster which

has to carry actual weight

be judiciously relaxed
case of one which

which

The

is

may
the

in

used either

as an ornamental adjunct or for

the mere division of a surface.

Take,

for instance, the pilaster

doorway and

of a

that

of a

The cornice is the


crowning member of the wall,

casket.

and, in

its

relation to the frieze,

may be regarded

as a develop-

ment of a moulded abacus

it

corbels out from the line of the


wall

on

which

it

to the horizontal

surface of the

should compose.

Generally,

suite of contrasted

ogee

and

is

mouldings

and

flat,

usually treated as a

subordinated to that of the


position

frieze.

it

is

ceiling,

with

made up

of a

concave, convex, and

mass

its

decoration

Bearing

office of the cornice, as

in

is

mind the

a whole, individual

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

54

may be

mouldings
coration

by raised or painted de-

relieved

some of the

and, for this purpose,

borders already given

be found

will

lines in the

But regard

suitable.

should be paid to the principle upon which the selection


is

made.

to be

mouldings
a

This principle applies to

decorated

all

As

whatever purpose they may be used.

for

the leading lines of the ornament should in a

rule,

measure repeat the profile of the moulding to be deco-

harmony between the decoration

rated, so as to ensure

and the object


concave

in

or

lines,

versed,

priate.

pattern

thus
or, if

which

it

is

If the profile is

applied.

form, then patterns based simply on these


re-

as

*\ .fgggr. V^WWTW

t * tM <* * -* ""

be appro-

will

to

'

*%&.

iiiv

moulding has an ogee

If the

may

outline, then the

..

convex, so

*
^- rrw7r~W^c

patterns will be

While the

"

may

profiles

^ at

'

stra ig nt - nne d

applicable,

and so on.

generally be the guide in

apportioning suitable patterns,

it

does not follow that

the profile or simple vertical section need in

determine the choice


circumstances
lines

may be

may

of

arise

lines

when

to

all

be employed

for variety's

cases
;

for

sake other

necessary to the general effect of the group

APPLICATION OF
mouldings forming the

of

sections will be

oblique

from those of the

may appear

they

O/hMMIj^*

55

Transverse and

cornice.

found to yield lines differing

profiles

and, though at

sight

first

to controvert the general principle laid

down, their use

will

result

in

though subtle

real

harmony.

We

now come

surfaces of a

the ceiling

room

namely, the

it

is

so

is

it

and

ceiling

First,

floor.

decorated part of

this is generally the least

Why

a room.

to the consideration of the horizontal

hard to understand, for

economic reasons do not explain

The

it.

traditional

white ceiling has a cold, cheerless, and unfinished look,

which
walls.
less

is

often intensified

Too

space

covering of the

rich

often the only relief accorded to the cheer-

the addition of

is

from which depends the


a

by the

room the

ceiling

is

some cheap

Of

gasalier.

the

one

centre ornament,

which

all

surfaces in

decorator the best chance to display his art


his

to

offers
;

for

the

here

whole scheme can be seen without any interruption


decorating a ceiling,

whatever.

In

membered

that

therefore,

more
ceiling

airy

that

it
it

is

depressing effect
loftier ceiling

should be re-

a source of reflected light, and,

should be treated in a lighter and

manner than the

be low,

it

for

walls,

particularly

if

the

heavy decorations would have a

and lessen

may have

its

reflective

power.

stronger tones and more power-

"

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

56

ornament, but

ful

be

still

less

The

than the vertical surfaces.


extent echo

and

preserve a general harmony or unity

whole decoration of the apartment.

may

out

some

ceiling should to

colour treatment of the cornice

the

frieze in order to
in the

pronounced, as a whole,

a simple scheme, limited

be, in

may

with corner ornaments, or

in

The

laying-

to

borders

a richer scheme be

arranged on some structural lines covering the whole


surface, and, as a rule, the

whole ornamentation should

On

be definite and approach the commonplace.

Plate

XII. are given a few examples showing some of the

methods used
structural
sizes

in decorating

arrangement resulting

and shapes, and

several

filled

parts are treated

This example

is

in

the latter

is

an " all-over

sizes

flat

in

panels

with

is

of unequal

ornaments

the

according to their " values."

French manner which prevailed

in the

of the eighteenth century.

part
"

in

Fig.

ceilings.

Fig.

treatment, consisting of panels, of certain

and shapes, repeated over the entire

containing conventional ornaments.

surface,

In Fig. 3

is

and

given

a Jacobean example of raised tracery relieved with " spot


patterns.

Fig. 4

is

a design for a printed ceiling-paper,

arranged on a multi-symmetrical basis

an arrangement for decoration by means

and painting
with

the

Fig.

shows

of stencilling

while Fig. 6 shows a method of dealing

surface

of

ceiling

whereof one

side

is

Plate XII.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

58

broken up by the projection of the chimney


In

laying-out

the

proportion

a
of

and the leading


it

i.e.,

similar

principle,

as

the

space

division,

the sake of unity.

This

ceiling

it

Figs,

in

at

be

should

and

5,

6,

considered,

should agree with

least,

should

proportion

i,

breast.

be repeated

for

Thus
will

not

be
//A

seen, has been observed in

the illustrations given in Plate XII.


Details calling for continued examination should be

excluded, as the positions

favourable

for

minute

occupied by them are not

observation

the

of

operation

puzzling out a complicated design, or reading an interest-

ing subject, would at the best result in cricking the neck.

Therefore, the design should be of a pleasant character,


easily seen at a glance,

and readily understood^

that respect should differ from a wall,

may be composed
be more

of

more

and

in

whose decoration

interesting

material,

and

intricately arranged.

Subject to these considerations, the same principles


that

have been advocated

for

ceilings, as regards laying-out,

composition of
*

The

line,

other surfaces apply to


distribution of elements,

and mass.

ceilings of large halls

and rooms can be reasonably decorated

with more interesting subjects than smaller ones, because of the


of points of view from which they can be examined.

number

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.
Besides

ceilings,

flat

there

59

others

are

of different

forms that should be mentioned, such as the coffered,


arched, and domed.

The

having sunk panels

lying

transverse

beams

its

first

is

a horizontal

between

ceiling,

and

longitudinal

decorative treatment does not in

principle differ materially from that required for other

panelled arrangements

severe

ornament on the

beams, and freer ornament

tural

in the panels.

deep recession of these, however, often


definition of the decorative details than

calls
is

for

The
more

accorded to

Arched and domed

panels of shallower depths.

struc-

ceilings,

applied respectively to rooms of oblong or circular plan,

graduate from the vertical walls of the rooms to the


crown, and thus afford opportunities for a more varied
decorative

treatment by the introduction of elements

not fitted for a horizontal surface.


these curved surfaces

figures, etc.,
;

at

the lower part

decoration of

combine the treatment

fitly

and horizontal ones.

of vertical

top

may

The

Vertical

ornaments,

horizontal ones at the

the whole being graduated together.

decorating

In
carpets

the

or otherwise,

floor

the

of

house,

whether by

prime condition to be met

the essential flatness of

its

surface

any decoration that tends

in

appearance to interfere

is

with

this

quality

is

wrong.

This

and, therefore,

wrongfulness

is

second only to that of making the floor actually un-

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

60

The

even.

general practice of decorating by the use of

more

carpets leads to

methods

such as

than the use of other

artistic sins

encaustic

tiles

or parquetry.

Carpets

are too frequently designed with a view to produce effect

when displayed
the purchaser,

shop windows, and

in

who

suitability of his

for the

time

may be

to catch the

eye of

so forgetful of the

purchase to the apartment which

it is

destined to adorn, as to allow mere prettiness of pattern


In order to design patterns for floor-

to rule his choice.

covering, the expression of even flatness and firmness

To

should be the aim of the designer.


will

have

to consider the class of forms

employed,

and

the

of

relation

this,

he

lines to

be

effect

and

tones

and

colours.

Patterns of a rectilinear character will better express than


curvilinear ones the

qualities of

solidity

and firmness,

while tones closely related will convey an idea of flatness

While firmness

better than those not closely related.

may be

expressed by the use of geometric elements

composed of

right lines,

it is

quite possible to interfere

with the sense of flatness in more ways than one, either

by the

appearance of lying
laced

by giving the pattern the

selection of tones, or

work

(see Plate

of bands, as in Fig.
therefore, unfits

it

in

more than one

XIII.).
i,

The

passing over and under

indicates an

The

for a floor.

of this kind suggests that

it

is

plane, as in inter-

uneven

surface, and,

adoption of a pattern

a border

borrowed from

Plate XI TT.

^SE L,BR^
r

ftrn:
TTKIVKRsiTT

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

62

decoration used for another purpose

but adopted.
fairly

An

Tones

not of such paramount importance.

is

may

where the unevenness of the

wall,

wrongly applied lead to similarly faulty

and

adapted,

interlacing pattern of this kind

be applied to a

surface

and not

results (see Figs. 3

In Fig. 3 the effect produced by the injudicious

5).

arrangement and application of widely dissimilar tones


is

of unevenness

that

has the appearance of a

this

of cubes set anglewise, and suggests a most

collection

uncomfortable walking surface

These

pleasant.
slight

defects

modifications.

In

Fig.

may be
the

first

made

instead of interlacing, are

easily

cured by only
if

the

be secured

Figs. 4 and

(as in

bands,

to intersect each

be rearranged and

in the second, if the tones

one another

equally un-

is

case,

(as in Fig. 2), the quality of flatness will

relation to

6),

in

the

other
and,

nearer

same

result will accrue.

In carpets the patterns


those

used

addition

to

may

take less rigid forms than

for

parquetry,

mosaics,

the

expression

of

etc.,

firmness

because,

and

in

flatness,

regard must be paid to the nature of the material, which

may be more

or less flexible in character.

Apart from

the essentials pertaining to

all

quality belonging to carpets,

and more particularly charac-

teristic

of

some kinds than of

siderationnamely, a

soft

floor-coverings, there

others,

and

is

which requires con-

slightly yielding surface.

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.

Hence

will

it

be well that patterns

combine curved

lines,

purpose should

for this

which express softness and

with straight lines and

bility,

63

angular

symbolise firmness and strength.

It

is

flexi-

which

forms,
just this

happy

combination of qualities which gives such pre-eminence


to

Oriental carpets, and

design

European

most

to

these works, there


ditions

sought

them so superior

renders

Throughout

productions.

a general regard for essential con-

is

and a ready acceptance of means

While recognising the

after.

ing lines to represent

flexibility,

Oriental artists are quick to


of

forms

which

often

rules

the

result.

of

is

the ends

no omission of

and so we

find that

themselves of the

accepting

England

instead

and,

In

avail

by

loom

to

suitability of flow-

there

rigid ones as expressive of firmness

peculiarities

in

the

frankly

the

angular

contrary

too

accepting

the

natural results of the process, designers are apt to regard

them

as difficulties to be

we may have

Again, although
right as far as
all

lines are

wrong by the

may
Take,

patterns which are

concerned, they

is

and unevenness

an uneven

effect

to

the

designs.

but there

is still

In

and hardness of outline

resulting from tones of great intervals.


;

all

may become

example, the illustrations on Plate XIII.

Fig. 7 there

in effect

with.

injudicious application of tones which

give harshness
for

combated and struggled

Fig. 8

is flatter

some harshness, because of the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

64

great difference between the tone of the ground and that


of the outline of the pattern.

brought

and

together, and

nearer

softness

mode

result

even flatness

in

the outline of the pattern melts, so to

speak, into the ground.

of a

In Fig. 9 the tones are

In Fig. 10

of applying tones which

which should be avoided;

the

is
is

given an example
too often seen, but

"lumpiness " of

resulting from such a distribution of tones

When

pleasant.

is

effect

most un-

may

devised, this "lumpiness"

first

have secured praise as

but could not

"novelty";

expect to endure the test of just criticism, which requires


that a novelty to be acceptable

must come within the

limits

of artistic requirements.

The

decoration of floors, by whatever means, should

be so designed and used as to be


the sense of repose and in
cheerfulness--^-the

sympathy with

in

harmony with the


one calling

desire

for

effect,

the other for variety and contrast.

in

As

unity

of

The degree

which these mental desires should be met

on circumstances.
in

for

natural

will

depend

a general rule, the floor ought,

the treatment of tone and colour, to so harmonise

with

the

dado that the walls of the apartment may

Although the

be united thereby.
with

the

dado,

this

amount

will,

to

is

harmony does not

introduction of a certain
this

floor

to

harmonise

preclude

the

amount of variety and contrast

some

extent, be regulated

by the

APPLICATION OF ORNAMENT.
character of the
to

65

Contrast and variety are not

dado.

be excluded, but kept in subordination to unity of

effect.

The

of actual

use of a bordered carpet, with a margin

between

flooring

and the skirting board,

it

admits of more variety and gradation in the decoration


of the
surface

floor

than was formerly the case

was covered.

What

when

the entire

has already been said about

borders generally applies to these special ones, subject,

of

course,

to

the

belonging

conditions

to

carpets.

Borders have a structural value, and require to be duly


proportioned to the enclosed centre of the carpet, and
also

some considerable thought


In

carpets
will

reference

and rugs

afford

to

this

will

matter, the study of Oriental

well

him many a

in suitably arranging.

repay the student,

silent

as

it

and valuable lesson

in

the proportionate adjustment and grouping of borders

with proper regard to the general effect to be produced.

CHAPTER

III.

METHODS OF EXPRESSION.

IN ofthisthe chapter
modes
and the purposes

to

it

is

proposed to consider

by which ornament

is

some

expressed,

which those modes may be applied.

There are three ordinary methods of expression:


surface lines, as in outline
as in painting',

and

drawing

(2)

(i)

surface massing,

(3) relief massing, as in modelling

and carving.

The

first

and second are appreciable by sight only,

the third by touch as well as by sight.

of

these

outline

methods

so

or in painted masses,

touch as well
are

occur

incised or

as

by

sight.

raised, as

in

pottery and metal work, and

is

For

that

often

Modifications

ornament,

in

recognised by

instance,

when

lines

the decoration of ancient

when forms

are painted

METHODS OF EXPRESSION.
with

work,
the

etc.

slight

modelling or
linear

by

modes of decoration

these

degree,

line

may be

of the readiest means of execution

Good

and pen.

to the artist, to

devote himself.

outline

is

this is true

whatever branch of

We

are told by

but, while there

definite limits to objects

to

be defined

accurately

line

practical

the simple

first

Expression

etc.

modern

necessity

is

the

the outcome

stylus,

art

pencil,

he may ultimately

some people

in nature.
is

no

that there

Theoretically,

outline,

there are

and natural forms, and these

in the linear

following

it

of the greatest importance

no such thing as an outline

have

belong to

the one very generally used, and in

education the one mostly encouraged

is

appropriate,

seen in the decoration of pre-

engraving,

etching,

pottery,
is

Take

from

later,

which

characteristics

relief expression.

method, which

historic

and other ceramics, gesso

but this arises, as will be seen

that

fact

in

as in Oriental

"slip,"

67

method by a decided
Admitting the

those limits.

of an

outline

for

forms

depicting

and expressing ornament, the next thing we have

do

is

to determine the quality of line to be used.

to

In

outline drawing, as a general rule, the lines should be


intentionally

of a uniform

found necessary to

employing
for

the

depart

strength

from

this

lines of different thicknesses,

purpose of

but

it

when

it

uniformity,

is

by

should be done

expressing some additional facts


F

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

68

connected with the subject of representation, and not

To

solely for " effect/'

strengthen the outline for the

purpose of representing shade as seen


ornament,

relief
it

altogether wrong, not only because

is

attempts to express badly an accident of lighting,

which does not belong

to the original,

puts

it

"

circle represents

you thicken

it

in

some

senting shade, the shape

wide

if

a sphere

it

in outline

but

part with the idea of repreis

no longer that of a true

on the outside

If thickened

sphere.

because

but

As Mr. Ruskin

results in a false representation of form.

if

a piece of

in

on the inside the space within

the same time shade

not

becomes too

it

not circular,

is

expressed."

But

and

at

this

does not preclude the use of light and dark lines


it

is

them

is

simply an argument against using


in a

wrong way.

lines can, without

any

Light and dark


sacrifice of truth,

These two

be used to express form.

drawings of the same form both express


the same facts, and are as true in the

one case as the other.

upon the amount of


our work.

and

If,

The

choice of line will depend

distinctness or force

for instance,

we wish

we

to express the bold

distinct relief of a piece of sculptured

strong line will be the better to use


subject be a delicate low

relief,

require for

if,

ornament, a

however, our

then a light line will

METHODS OF EXPRESSION.
be the more

In the

suitable.

69

case,

first

we use

lines

strongly contrasting with the surface on which they are

drawn

in the second, lines that assimilate

with the tone

of the ground.

When we

represent a piece of work

desire to

which are combined both bold and delicate


as a

group of

relief,

the

may be

lines

represent the different degrees of

varied

relief,

such

which are

objects, or a plant, portions of

near and remote,

in

so

as

to

and may be so

thoughtfully carried out that an outline drawing would

convey a

of the various

recession

By varying

idea

accurate

fairly

parts

of

composing the

the lines in this manner,

we

is

by the use of

lines of

unequal thickness, there

sacrifice of truth in the representations.


2,

and

show

height

modelled

from

the

consequently,

sufficient for

lies

Fig.

ground

the purpose of

in

XIV.

See Plate

line
its

of

is

on

from a

relief of

which

equal

it

was

strength

is

representation, as form

parts have a higher relief than the rest

pattern

be no

will

lying in one plane only had to be defined.

some

and while

different outline treatments of

similar pieces of ornament.

uniform

us,

rendered more interesting and effective

the drawing

1,

subject.

are enabled to

express more than the shapes presented to

Figs.

and

projection

the

In Fig. 2
i.e.,

two planes, one above the other

the

the

higher portions being the central bud form, with the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

7o

rosette at

base,

its

The

side leaves.

and the upper side of the two large

differences in the relief are expressed

by the use of strong contrasting


and of
in

lighter ones for the lower; and, as

all

the parts

lie

only two planes, the sets of lines used are each of

uniform strength.
is

lines for the higher parts

In Fig. 3 the relief

is

more

varied,

graduated from the lowest to the highest plane

therefore, the lines required for

vary

in

Figs. 4

its

and
and,

expression are such as

thickness or strength throughout their courses.

and

show the

application of lines of varying

strengths to decorative work.


Outline, besides being used for the purposes indicated,

can be employed to express various qualities, such as


softness, rigidity, flexibility, grace, etc.

But, although the point or stylus

may be used

for the

production of line work expressing a great variety of

forms and

qualities,

its

capabilities

are

limited

and

masses and quantities should be expressed by the aid


of the superior powers of the brush.
It

is

very remarkable that

in

the prevailing methods

of art instruction drawing with the brush has received


little

or no attention.

perhaps, too

While our

national

much encouragement

to

scheme

line

gives,

drawing,

it

gives no stimulus to space or mass drawing by the brush.

This omission

is

to

be regretted, as practice of

kind bears so directly on

many

artistic industries.-

this

The

Plate XIV.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

72

use of the brush

is

drawing beyond

all

other means

the

more

student to

quantities

capable of developing powers of

rapidly

by directing

the solidity

his

and, while

it

will assist

the value

appreciate

attention to spacing

of

and to

forms used, the freedom of hand

of the

acquired by the employment of the brush will affect his


line

work and

raise

its

Whatever may be

quality.

thought of the Japanese as decorative designers, there


can be but one opinion as to their merits as draughts-

men, and

their skill

in

drawing

largely

is

due

to their

being accustomed from their youth upwards to the use of


the brush as a writing and drawing implement.

power of drawing seen


vitality is

much

work of a

in their line drawing,

The

which

for

superior to the generality of European


nature,

similar

has been

the restricted use of a hard point.

on " Line," Mr. Ruskin,


the Old Masters, says

after

"

The

developed from

In his Oxford lecture

speaking of the practice of


fact is that, while

we have

always learned, or tried to learn, to paint by drawing,


the ancients learned to draw by painting.

was put

into their

The brush

hands when they were children, and

they were forced to draw with that

until, if

they used the

pen or crayon, they used them with the lightness of a


brush or the decision of a graver."

By

substituting the

have a direct means

brush for the pencil-point,

for expressing

we

mass and space as

METHODS OF EXP
Linear ornamental elements translated by

well as line.

become enriched and gain

the brush

by the process

istics

are

the

changed, and forms which

lines so

special character-

outcome of the implement, not only

natural

largely increase our

range of ornamental material, but

augment our methods of expression.

also

With the

brush we are able to readily render ornament (i) by


accented

lines, as

of

tints

flat

masses

(c)

(3)

at

(2)

uniform

by simple

strength

in

by graduated tones

(b)

(d)

(4)

by the superposition of tones

(5)

by an arrangement of tones side

by

work

side, in imitation of relief

Simple brush work may be used


or

positive

negative

way

^r^

(e).

i.e.,

^k^mA*
&**% Jki4

in

by

^^Sgjr

painting in either the pattern, as at<,


or

By

ground, as at f.

the

mk
^e

ifcij

p)

juxta-

posing different tones and colours (g) very rich effects

be

can

obtained,

and

still

richer

by superposition.

These methods of applying brush work not only serve


to

enrich

them

to

our

patterns,

particular

but also enable us

grounds,

secure distinctness or softness of

On

require.

of brush
tones.

Plate

XIV.

work showing the

The upper

are

or

light

dark,

effect,

to

adapt

so as to

as cases

may

given several examples

different

modes of applying

left-hand corner of Fig. 6

shows the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

74

laying of uniform tones

same pattern
around

the

flowers are

composed of forms

In Fig. 7 are

juxtaposed tones.

same tone

of the

line

same design

In the lower part of the

it.

juxtaposed.

by a

enriched

is

laid

the right-hand corner of the

different

in

shown other arrangements of


group of examples

Fig. 8 consists of a

illustrating the superposition of tones,

and

an example

is

of this principle seen on a clover-leaf, where

takes the

it

form of a connected pattern covering the three

shows

the

application

ornamental pattern.

'relief

work.

way brings us

this

an

to

given the method of

is

superposing tones after the manner of


in

leaflets.

foregoing

the

of

In Fig. 9

employment of tones

tones

The

a form

to

of decorative painting which comes very near to imi-

work imitative

tative

relief sufficiently to
flat

be carried

is

either

it

extent

far this

in to the

a fictitious realism.

by the
surface

suggests

it

should, however,

extent of producing deceptive

by imitating strong cast shadows on the

interest of the work,

amount of

it

imitative quality should

ground or by adding anything that


it

that

out of the category of mere

a question of taste

never be indulged
relief

take

How

decoration.

the

to

relief

The aim
and not

will

tend to give to

should be to increase the

to cheat the vision.

The

given to the work should be regulated

conscious

knowledge of the character of the

upon which the pattern

is

produced.

It will

be

Plate XV.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

76

obvious that

all

these simple methods of treating surface

decoration, indicated at a, b y

exception of

suitable for application to

e,

such as textile hangings, pottery,


fitted

manent
brush

Plate

work.
;

while e

objects,

is

better

occupy some fixed or per-

to

Fig. 10

position.

etc.,

movable

is

an example of ornamental

lines.

On
tiles

made

for designs

with the

are,

d, e, f, g,

c,

Figs.

XV.
I,

Fig. 3

are given illustrations of direct brush

2,

4 and 5 are taken from old Damascus

from Chinese pottery

taken

is

Fig. 6

from a Flemish earthenware plate of the seventeenth


century
plate

and Fig.

an

was drawn from an old Persian

example of pure brush work

colour, ex-

in

pressed by line and mass.

Modelling and carving, unlike the other modes of


giving expression to ornament, are not restricted to one

plane for their development


are

concerned

with

actual

but

lie in

light

many

and

appreciation of sculptured and modelled

very largely upon

and shadow.

its

planes,

and

Our

shade.

work depends

being designed for holding shade

Whether

it

be made

for

graduated shade,

or for the exhibition of strong contrasts of shadow, will

depend on circumstances of position and of

There
namely

are

(1)

sunk

line of the

work

two

distinctive

relief,
is

kinds

of

lighting.
relief

work,

or cavo-relievo, in which the out-

deeply incised, and the spaces between

METHODS OF EXPRESSION.

77

caved, the design being slightly below the ground


Plate

XIV., Fig. 11)

and

(2) raised relief,

ground surrounding the design

work projecting from

many

there are

it

is

to

relief,

relievo

relief,

half

or stiacciato

first,

the

on our

coins.

work

low
;

is

relief,

parts are detached

or basso-

and full
in

relief,

but slight

or

relief

little

pro-

In the second, the

relief is

more

variety,

and the forms are rounded, as

we have

The terms

relief.

greater, the modelling of the design has

In the third,

raised relief

forms have very

from the ground, and the


jection, as

or mezzo-relievo

In the

alto-relievo.

Of

which names have been

applied to indicate various degrees of

used are flat

wherein the

lowered, leaving the

(see Fig. 12).

varieties,

(see

the subject

in

Assyrian sculpture.

more

still

from the ground.

raised, but

The

no

fourth kind

shows the greatest amount of

relief possible,

entirely free from the slab

upon which the work was

wrought, as

in

the

metopes

development of alto-relievo

of

the

results in

with portions

Parthenon.

entire relief, or

sculpture in the round, as seen in statuary.

Low
tion,

relief requires clear, bright light for its elucida-

while high relief with bold undercutting

for cloud or diffused

The rounded

light.

form of

relief is best

seen

a direct side

in

light, as in this

sketch

is

better

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

78

The same

becomes

only,

seen in shadow by reflected

relief,

and only the

lost,

as

ineffective,

the

light

surface modelling

is

^^

deep cutting and


definite

edges are

visible

thus

i|l|

square-edged treatment, with strong incisive

therefore

adapted

better

for

dimly-lighted

Again, objects which are movable and


spection,

work

in

may be
low

lines, is

situations.

close

for

in-

appropriately decorated with modelled

relief

while

for,

can be

they

always

placed in a light that will bring out the beauty of the

modelled surfaces, the

relief

will

with their use or their outlines.


to

in

no way

If

the decoration

is

occupy some permanent position, then the nature of

the relief will have to be specially considered


it

interfere

will

be Viewed

whether

it

As

tance.

sculpture
will

will

in

regards lighting,

make

shadow, or

a comparison

at a dis-

of Classic

South with Northern Gothic

clear the broad general principle

which the selection of

effect

in

be seen near to the eye or

of the sunny

serve to

XVI.

open daylight or

whether

relief

should be based.

On

upon
Plate

shown two treatments of relief work, and the


that different ways of lighting have upon them.
is

The two

distinct

ways

in

which

relief

may be executed

Plate XVI.

EFFECT OF LIGHTING ON RELIEF WORK.

No.

I.

No. 3.

No. 2.

No. 4.

Square edged relief, flat surface, side lighted.


(B) Rounded relief, undulating surface, side lighted.
(No. ia) Seen in dull light.
(No. 2b) Seen in similar light, surface modelling lost.
(A)

(No. 3A) Light directly in front, flatness accented.

(No. 4B) In extreme side light,

rounded relief

intensified,

^sTUb^
OFTHF

XTKIVERSITT

F.G.J.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

80

are by carving and modelling

and as both the methods

of execution and the materials employed vary, so the


results should exhibit distinct characteristics.

work you have, so


a hard material

in

to speak, to dig out

The

for these reasons, if for

be easily

other, terra-cotta should

from stone carving.

your design from

modelling you build up your forms

with a soft and pliable material

no

In carved

distinguishable

finishing of terra-cotta should

not be carried on in the direction of imitating carved

work, but
clay

so

that,

process of
the

conformity with the plastic nature of the

in

when converted

firing,

when

work may be

modelled, remains as the

some

when

some other
metals.

it

final

the pattern

is

material with a

soft

preserved.

still

either direct or indirect

the material in which

indirect

medium
first

for its expression

modelled or carved

view

in

to its translation into

In the case of direct work, such as

is

applied

woods employed

Dark and heavy-looking woods

is

of

require

broad treatment, while light-coloured woods

require delicate execution.

When

relief

work

indirectly, a consideration of the material in

be

direct

material, such as bronze, iron, or the precious

importance.

to

wrought, carved, or

is

to furniture, a consideration of the

bold and

hardness by the

the characteristics of the material and

method of work should be


Relief

into

finally

expressed

is

essential

is

which

used
it is

bronze and iron, for

METHODS OF EXPRESSION.

81

and bolder treatment than

instance, requiring a larger


is

necessary for silver and

gold.

as

much by

the metal used

intrinsic

obviously

have

will

justing

of

be

to

taken

decoration,

relief

account

into
in

or,

principles

its

are

minuteness of an

or

size

by

as

must not be over-

scale

the

determined

is

these general

question

the
for

object

While

value.

observed,

looked

colour of

the

This

ad-

in

decoration

fact,

of

any kind.
Again, in modelling or carving for reproduction in
different materials,

be

reproduction

it

his

in

becomes necessary

for

cheap

of

repetition,

relief

the

metal

In

can be used

of any

number

accurate

copy

varied

cutting will

moulding

of

of pieces
of

the

relief

and

artist

is

but,

if

ornaments

checked

the

first

case,

indulged
a

the

in

be

in,

by
high

because

mould

requisite

for

In

avoidance

producing an
the
of

second, a
all

under-

be essential, so that a simpler kind

may be

for

moulds being composed

original.

an

of

relief;

plaster

producing

such

cost

will

may be

mode

costly

out will

economy, as

or

castings,

freedom

this

casting

less

to consider

with undercutting

more

the

rendering of the

considerations.

practical

When

it

of secondary importance, the

is

fairly free

case

ways of carrying

by circumstances.

dictated

left

certain

employed.

The annexed

of

simple

82

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

diagrams

will further explain.

of

piece

of

necessary

^^

The

pieces

the

indicate

shows the section

I.

ornament.

relief

J||w^

No.

into

The

is

in

order to

reproduce the undercutting,

and

formation

shows the necessary


ornament

it

mould,

the

which entails

of

No.

considerable labour and, therefore, expense.

similar

lines

which

the

divide

to

dotted

alterations

to adapt

it

in

II.

the modelling of a

to a one-piece mould.

effect of relief is often

aided and heightened by

for instance, in the plaster decorations

the use of colour

of the Moors,

appears to have been adopted in order

it

to give distinctness to the relief


their dimly-lighted interiors,

was

fusion which

likely to

ornaments which adorned

and
arise

also to prevent the con-

from their practice of

superposing one pattern upon another,

schemes of decoration.

The want

in

their richer

of light in

Gothic

churches no doubt primarily led to the use of colour in


connection with carved work, to help
increasing the depth of the cutting.

decoration
i.e.,

work

moved.
to

to

is

in

be found

its effect

variety of relief

in pierced or perforated

which the ground or pattern

is

This method of treating ornament

various

metal, and

materials, such
is

instead of

as wood,

stone,

work,

entirely reis

applicable
ivory,

and

invaluable in combining richness of effect

with actual lightness of material.

In pierced relief work,

METHODS OF EXPRESSION.
the effect chiefly

spaces

relief

the

or

work.

XIV.

Plate

be subordinated, so

of the pattern, should

that low relief

of

the ordered spaces and inter-

in

therefore any carving or modelling of the spaces,

or masses

high

lies

and

soft

deeply

hollows should be preferred to

treated with

Compare

Fig.

it

and clear as possible

oblique crossings and complicated

16,

same

Plate.)

which decoration of
tion,

The
this

and

some woods,

that

end

all

which tend

to

(See Figs.

15

peculiarity of the material in

kind

stone,

to this

details,

is

wrought, requires atten-

and should influence treatment.

e.g.,

so

used, or in

principles

confusion, should be carefully avoided.

and

pattern,

often

is

is

on

14

Thus, the pattern should

regulate piercing are constant.


distinct

and

expressed, the

is

Fig.

Whatever form

results.

whatever material

with

13

may have an even

Pierced work

good

upon the surface

cut incisions

untouched by carving of any kind

be as

83

Brittle materials

and pottery

require

broader

treatment and stronger attachments than are necessary


in the case of iron or brass.

If

work of

this

be executed with the fret-saw, long simple


pattern are

best

intricate

details

kind

is

to

lines in the

and sudden turns

impede the action of the saw and prevent easy execution.

When, however, such work


punches or

chisels, these

is

to

be

more complex

executed with
details

may be

introduced into the design, consistently with clearness.


G

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

84

Whether
depend
the

be

the ground

upon

former

certain

at

hold together,

interrupted

if

to be connected

the

" ties "

stencil

will

have

to

that

"ties,"

or ground

it

being

have

crossing the pattern, which

becomes interrupted and the ground


annexed

will
If

the ground will

the latter, then

by

by

interspaces

away

application.

of

points

cut

is

pattern

the

desirable,

connected

may

circumstance

the

is

pattern

or

The

patterns).

continuous

(see

use of pierced work

has influenced and generated other forms of decoration.

Much Arabian and


is

English Elizabethan

evidently derived from pierced

even surfaces

while

ornament

work superposed upon

marquetry, though properly be-

longing to surface decoration,


of the

relief

same work, consisting

practically

is

as

it

an adaptation

does of the interchange

of pieces of fretwork in different coloured materials


tortoiseshell, brass,

white metal,

etc.

Stencilling, again,

METHODS OF EXPRESSION.
is

only the

work

open

of

application

production of surface decoration, and

manner

following

and

zinc

colour

brushed

then

removal of

the

pattern

pattern corresponding with


Sgraffito

plate.
it

another

is

the

decoration, and

to

zinc,

be ornamented

there

pattern

mode

be well to notice here

will

effected in the

is

over the openings,

paper or

the

and,

remains a

of the stencil

it

used for wall

is

in

various

its

work

treatments, which range from simple incised line


to

low

produced

cement

pared

is

coloured

and then

on

through the
to

of

the

paper,
pattern
light,

under,

plaster,

pattern

which

mass
taste.

layer of light

thin

on

the

thus

coloured plaster or

design,

previously

pre-

transferred to the sur-

is

next cut with a knife

is

upper,

or

dark,

or

layer

may

down

substratum

vealing

re

a light

dark

ground,

be

in line or

cording to

ac-

a thicker

If

uppe r
plaster

is

superposed on a dark one, either black or

The

face.

This kind of decoration

relief in mass.

on

of decoration which

exceedingly effective

is

the easy

to

cut out in paper or

is

upon the surface

laid

is

85

layer of

2.A"

be em-

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

86

ployed,

may

it

then be carved

the effect being a low-

relief

on a coloured ground, rather

wood

ware.

Gesso, again,

is

like that of

a variety of relief work

may be

executed with the brush, and, therefore,

called relief painting.

diluted glue

and

this

thinly

made

properly

mixture of plaster of Paris and

of about the consistency of cream,

painted on the surface to be decorated

is

afterwards,

up

piled

is

Wedg-

first,

by successive touches, the gesso

until the limits of

low

relief are attained

is

by

the addition of cotton wool or tow a high relief can,

however, be secured, and when

do

in

little

coloured.

mie

time, the

sets hard, as

work may be carved,

harder and a finer variety

part resin, four parts of linseed

of melted glue
in

it

water, being

is

it

will

tinted,

and

composed of
and

oil,

six

parts

a small portion of whitening, soaked

added

to give

This takes longer to dry

substance and opacity.

but,

when

very hard and can be highly polished.

set,

it

becomes

Latterly,

some

patent materials used by house decorators have been


successfully

bastine"

employed

for

and " Denoline."

easily manipulated.

gesso work

The

such

former

is

as " Ala-

the

more

CHAPTER

IV.

ELEMENTS OF ORNAMENT.

THE

character of ornamental

on the

details

of arrangement.

art

depends greatly

employed, as well as upon

Although good ornament

is

mod

possible

with simple materials, yet, undoubtedly, the higher forms


of

decorative

While we are

art

must include the noblest elements.

drawn

naturally

to

compositions

those

which include the highest organic forms, we should not


discard the use of those

composed of

materials, because they hold a place

though humble function

and

fulfil

many

broadly classified under two heads

ficial and the natural.

be subdivided into

(i)

a useful

in the decorative systems.

elements of ornament are drawn from

may be

interesting

less

sources,
:

(2)

and

the arti-

These, for convenience,


Geometrical,

The

may

Architectural,

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

88

(3)

Vegetable,

Industrial, (4)

Human

Under

Figure.

the

first

geometrical diapers,

traceries,

Animal, and

(5)

come

frets, interfacings,

Under

etc.

(6) the

the second,

columns, entablatures, pediments, pilasters, labels, car-

Under

touches, etc.

fourth

leaves, flowers,

include, plants,

will

roots, festoons, acanthus foliage, rosettes

quadrupeds',

birds,

fishes,

The

dolphins, shells, etc.

insects,

To

consider

come under

fully

and the

and

fruits

reptiles,

fifth,

griffins,

sixth division will comprise,

telamones, terminals,

adult figures, amorini, caryatfdes,


etc.

The

vases, arms, etc.

candelabra,

ribbons,

draperies,

the third, tools, musical instruments,

the elements which might

all

the several heads would be quite impossible

within the limits of this work

and we

will, therefore,

some of the
commencing with those

content ourselves with the consideration of

more important

each

in

included under the

Elements

The

ornaments, the
flat

surfaces,

are

their

firmness

frets,

Japanese and

borders,

may be

purpose

for

in

for

variously

historic

all

borders,

which

for

eminently

Egyptian
set

ornamenting

for

formed of them are

diapers
in

which are useful

expression

of

Geometrical

(1)

elements are the right-lined

employed

chiefly

many

especially

simplest

sub-division.

and which occur

They
but

first

class,

out,

fits

to

art.

styles.

which

them

be found,
Frets,

according to

they are required.

as

the

Usually the

ELEMENTS OF OKN^MENT.

89

pattern and the ground are equally spaced, as in Fig. a

but this need not always be the case, for a more pleasing effect can be obtained by unequal
spacing, as

Fig.

in

Then, again,

b.

nj HJ p
~Z"

cv

they need not always be based upon the


square, but

may be based upon

oblong, as shown in Fig.

be better

will

,,

the

*lllu~liSlBrr

This form

c.

many

frets are to

be met

for the expression of hori-

zontality, but

n r_

^3v

/<

~l

with, chiefly Oriental, in which oblique


lines

are introduced, as in Fig. d\ and these are very

suitable

for

traceries,
lines,

inclined

composed of

serve

interest

flat

for

Interlacings

surfaces.

oblique, vertical,

similar

purposes,

and

and

and horizontal
possess

more

from the variety infused into their composition.

The

use of curves,

lines

or

either

in

conjunction

by themselves, leads on

to

with

richer

right
series.

Interlaced patterns, based wholly on the circle, will give

such patterns as the Guilloche and the

Money

border

Plate XL).

(see

Geometrical
elements, and

figures
lie

at

intricate patterns in

the

and

spacings

are

valuable

base of those elaborate and

which the Oriental

artists

and the

mosaic workers of the Middle Ages so freely indulged.

The

use of these figures in the construction of diapers

has already been pointed out

in

Chapter

I.

p^/gggagggg

CHAPTER

V.

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS.

NEXT

come

in order

architectural elements.

tecture, rightly understood,

construction
allied

not

is

Archi-

the art of aesthetic

construction merely, but construction

with beauty

not

made

beautiful

decoration, but by beauty inherent in

In good architecture

we

by superadded
its

construction.

recognise the fullest expression

of the inventive and constructive faculties, together with

a regard for beauty


ness, proportion,

and, as

stability,

it

is

based upon order,

fit-

and grace, elements drawn

from such a source necessarily possess qualities so high


as to

command

chief concern of decorative art

form, and colour, and


necessities

The

the attention of the ornamentist.

it

is

with beauty of

line,

has less to do with constructive

than architecture.

The freedom

it

enjoys

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS.
from that restraint which attends
is,

without some counteracting

liberty, liable to

run

riot

In

all

the

decoration

but the employment of archi-

is

distinctly seen.

and painted

of panels,

It is

traceable

glass, iron-work, jewellery,

pilaster

shafts,

Archi-

etc.

forms, pure and simple, are often incorporated

tectural
in

a dangerous

influence,

the best periods of ornamental art the

influence of architecture
in pottery, stained

aesthetic construction,

a means for minimising such a

tectural elements offers

tendency.

91

decorative designs, but are oftener modified by the

imagination, so

and

other

as

freer

details,

Hence,

associated.

bring them

to

while

into

which

with

harmony with
become

they

some forms

are

distinctly

XVII.,

architectural, others are but suggestive (see Plate

Fig.

13,

capital

by

Now,

Holbein).

architectural forms in a design,

it

is

in

adapting

not essential that

the rigidity necessary in pure architecture should always

be maintained, because the same structural conditions

have not to be dealt with.


actual

physical

weight

has

In the case of architecture,


to

be

provided

decoration, the appearances of weight only


as the eye

is

satisfied with

for

in

and so long

the semblance of stability,

freedom of treatment can be indulged

in.

The

reason

given above for modifying the severe forms of architecture

namely, that they may be brought into harmonious

relation with

more ornate elements

justifies such treat-

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

92

ment

and the history of architecture

itself

furnishes

instances in which forms, taken from a severe style to be

used
fit

in a

them

Roman

underwent considerable change to

richer one,

for their

new

Take one example from

position.

In adopting the Grecian Doric column

art.

was necessary

to so soften

severe features as to bring

a, it

and tone down


into

it

its

harmony with

the richer ornamental system associated with

practice.

The

column would

original

been discordant and disturbing


unity of the
it

It

work

was made

to the general

was employed

it

it,

distinct

necking was given

Whatever

and a base added.


in,

that the variations are

and

principles.

b).

and more slender, had a

taller

cations are indulged


,fe;

which

have

was, therefore, so to speak, revised (as Fig.

moulded abacus, a
to

in

Roman

This was the

the Corinthian order.

To

upon

do

knowledge of pure architecture

care must

is

this,

modifi-

be taken

architectural lines
it

follows that a

of vital importance,

if

the elements from such a source are to be intelligently


used.

The

study of architecture

ornamental material, but

will

high decorative importance.


the crowning of supporting

will

not only furnish

bring to light principles of

For

instance, in regard to

members

like

columns, the

higher the column in proportion to width, the

taller

the

Plate XVII.

M7NIVERSITY

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

94

capital,

and

This principle,

vice versa.

it

be seen,

will

is

also recognised in the relative pitch of the roofs of classic

buildings and those of northern Gothic.

Apart from climatic and other conformer

ditions, the horizontality of the


~
rig.

artistically requires

i.

pediment (Fig.

The

i).

a lower gable or

tendency of Gothic

vertical

buildings calls for a higher pitch

(Fig.

2).

Reverse these and the importance of the


principle

The

is

seen at once.

value of this principle would appear

development of Gothic windows,

to

be attested

in

which we have the long narrow ones of the lancet

in the

/^fffh^v

period surmounted by an acutely

pointed

arch

while

in

the

later

phases of the style these apertures


widen, and the crowning arch beFig.

Fig. 4.

3.

Fig.

comes depressed

5.

This general principle

is

(Figs.

3, 4,

and

5).

a guide in proportioning the

superadornment of rectangular spaces, whether of

frontis-

pieces of books, or a pair of park gates in wrought iron


in fact,

many

historic

examples show that

this proportion

has been observed by their designers (Plate XVII., Figs.


4,

5,

Plate

10,

14,

and

Each of these

15).

XVII. appears

to

be controlled,

by the proportion of the

classic

five

in its

figures

general

pediment, which

on

lines,

may be

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS.
roughly determined as shown at Fig.

95

Place one leg

3.

of the compasses on the point where the vertical central

and extend the other

line crosses the horizontal cornice,

to

extremity of the

the

latter,

and

then describe a

Taking the

quadrant, cutting the vertical line below.

made

intersection thus

as a centre,

and with the chord

of the arc as a radius, describe a semicircle upwards,


cutting the vertical line, which will determine the slant

Again, mouldings usually have

of the raking cornice.

a projection, from the body of the work to which they


belong, equal to their depth

when

decorated, the

Such

agree with the section.

lines of the pattern

ciples

and,

have influenced

all

good decorative work,

of course, to modifications by material

prin-

subject,

for instance, the

tenacity of metal over that of stone will allow the projection of metal mouldings to exceed

what

is

the safe

limit for stone architecture.

Having pointed out some


pass

on

to

notice

It

more

angular

abacus

columns and

assumes

originally

bell of
;

the

as

pilasters

the

detail

modified,

less

was designed

between the

it

or

we

now

will

few ornamental details derived

Perhaps no

from architecture.
used,

principles,

in

capital

the

of

the

volute

scroll.

occupy the space

to

(Plate

function

as

so frequently

is

and the

soffit

Corinthian

XVII., Fig.
support

for

of the

capitals
6),

the

left

of

where
over-

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

96

hanging portion of the


strength render
friezes

it

gracefulness

Its

latter.

particularly suitable for setting out

and other ornamental arrangements where these


n).

qualities are desirable (see Fig.

Figs.

and 20 show the development

19,

and

undergone.

On

the

same

this

Figs.

Plate,

17, 18,

16,

element has

and

show

forms often seen in old iron-work, which are derivatives

from architectural

Fig.

details.

dwarf column, as shown

at

a "broken pediment," as

at

is

is

abstracted from

b\ Figs. 7

and 8 are door

Fig. 2

hinges, and obviously their form

round arch used

The

hinge,

9,

is

influenced by the

Norman period.
period when the

of the

in architecture

Fig.

from a baluster or

belongs to the

pointed arch came into use, the influence of which

seen

in the

spring

change of form and

from the central

in the

Fig.

strap.

way
12

is

the scrolls

shows

the

decoration of a narrow upright panel with an ornamentally


treated architectural support.

Cartouches, which

owe
to

we

their origin, as the

the

ancient

include in this section, appear to

meaning of the word

use of paper or parchment labels for

holding inscriptions and badges

when

the latter were

used, the cartouche took the form of shields.

of these labels or shields,

curled

into

indicates,

scroll

when

forms of

The edges

fancifully cut, naturally

an ornamental character.

This, attracting attention, led to a systematic develop-

Plate XVIII.

M,,

(JlHI'Mi

'MI!||||||

Plate

XIX

^^^
^

tig-

hi

y\b

m^mm^W^

^^iM^rmJ^

iral

<

fo^rlT^

WtttttJ

F.G.J

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS.
and ultimately,

ment,

ornament, resulted

known

detail
is

set

conjunction

in

valuable in design, both in

more

off

rolled

ginnings of the cartouche

to

and as a tonic

to

On

Plate

XVIII. are

Fig. 12, cut as at a, with the

Fig.

13, cut

on the

the parts rolled backwards and forwards

of

b>

is

a variation of the same,


;

Fig. 15

Figs. 16, 17, 18,

in the

flat.

all

and 19 are obtained

Plate

XIX.

is

e,

f
t

lines

Fig. 14

the parts being curved

shows a richer form, cut as

the diagrams attached,

edges

probable be-

the

illustrate

projections rolled backwards

forwards

it

foil

cut paper, with the

various ways, to

in

As an element

interesting ornament,

shown some sketches from

interlaced

capacity as a

its

give strength to a composition.

with

kind of decorative

in that particular

cartouche work.

as

99

and

in

the

at c;

and

same way,

being their forms

devoted to examples showing

the further development of the cartouche

different

at

After the ornamental elaboration of the edges

periods.

they become thickened, a result no doubt obtained from


their reproduction in carving.

The

thickness was some-

times uniform, but more often graduated, a refinement

which added greatly

to the character of this

element

4,

(see Figs.

1,

ornamental

and 6 from French and Flemish

examples of the sixteenth century).

Then we have

the

borders of the cartouche foliated and adorned with masks

and other

details

based on natural objects

(see

Fig.
2

2,

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

IOO

from a German design of the

after Holbein, Fig. 3,

teenth century, and

Fig.

10,

from

late

six-

French Renais-

Another way of treating the edge was by the

sance).

application of distinct architectural features,

severe, as in Fig. 8, which

is

more or

less

an illustration taken from

Italian art of the sixteenth century.

Figs. 9

and

1 1

show

the modelling of the edge into rounded forms, a treat-

known

as " Louis Treize."

ment

peculiar to the style

Some

cartouches have their surfaces pierced, as in Figs.

4 and

5,

of

tion

and
two,

in

or

very rich examples

even

portions of the upper


as in Fig.
as

in

the

4.

strap

Again, the surface

superposed,

is

Fig.

often seen panelled,


7,

whilst

Fig.

12

application of the idea of the cartouche

work, which largely

Renaissance.

cartouches

a combina-

one interpenetrating the lower,

Jacobean example,

illustrates the

to

three,

we have

dominated the English

CHAPTER

VI.

INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS.

WE

now

pass on to consider the industrial elements

comprised

in

our third division.

convenience we have assumed


class, yet

the

it

might be

architectural

the distinction

is

every

and

the

at

article

regarded as a sub- division of

but slight.
it

is

If

fashioned for useful purposes should be


to the

eye,

it

follows

and architecture have much

art

Although

industrial

character

our definition of archi-

the art of aesthetic construc-

formed and made pleasing

purposes of

practically

same time we accept the dictum

industrial

life,

for

for these objects a distinct

Theoretically and

group.

tecture be right, that


tion,

fairly

Although

objects

have

to

serve

in

that
fitly

that

common.

the minor

they are nevertheless architectural in

the difference between a cup rightly designed,

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

102

and a building

truly planned for a specific purpose,

rather a matter of degree than of principle.

The

mating principles of architecture and industrial

art

identical in spirit,
distinctly

very

is

ani-

being

the results are often similar; and so

this the case, that occasions arise

difficult to classify

The

them.

in the present instance is therefore

for

is

when

it is

adopted

classification

an arbitrary one, used

convenience only.
Industrial objects, such as tools, musical instruments,

vases, armour, etc., are used in a variety of ways, often


in

purely aesthetic manner, but more generally for

mnemonic and symbolic purposes.


of objects

is

By

the aesthetic use

be understood the inclusion of

to

details,

such as those just named, without any other aim than


pleasing the sense of vision
are

selected

means
sition

for

and, therefore, the objects

the beauty of their forms, and as a

for

infusing variety

and

the mnemonic, as the word

tion for the purpose of aiding the


facts

set

and events

forth

These

some

different

and the symbolic

idea

implies,

their

uses of industrial

in character

one another.

their adopin

recalling

employment

to indicate a virtue or an

mnemonic, and the symbolic

to

is

memory

the two

from the

to

office.

and other elements

divide ornamental art into three classes

very distinct

compo-

interest into a

the aesthetic, the

latter,

first,

while being

are nearly allied

symbol may be used

to

aid

the

INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS.

memory as well as
may serve to recall

an

to set forth

103

Thus

idea.

a cross

the circumstance of the death of our

Lord, and at the same time stand for the symbol of the
Christian faith

or a lyre be used to bring to recollec-

tion the ancient use of that instrument or to typify the

general

mnemonic have much


For

While the symbolic and the

of music.

idea

in

distinctions.

inscriptions ornamentally treated

written

instance,

common, they have

are mnemonic, and in no sense of the term can they

On

be regarded as symbolic.

examples of symbolic

emblem of

The form

Deity.

The

sun worship.

details.

Plate
Fig.

XX.
is

survival of this form

asps,

circle

is

retained,

symbols of wisdom

indicate

Deity.

sovereignty
Fig. 3

is

to

ubiquity,

emblem
Above the

unstrung.

Being a race given

the pursuit

of hunting, their

was as a King mighty


symbol shows a King
In Fig. 4

is

we have

more complex

attributes

a similar

a form shaped as a

disc

seen in the

and on either side are

is

central

is

while the outstretched wings

and

used by the Assyrians.

bow

prehistoric

In Fig. 2

the Egyptian symbol of divinity, but in a

The

given

of a circle points to early

halo or nimbus of the Middle Ages.

form.

are

of

the

t
$l]~fi$

conception of a god

in the chase.

in the act of

variety of this

drawing the bow.

given the Egyptian scarabczus, or beetle,

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

io4

symbol of

The

creature deposits

which

rolls

it

which

creation, the idea of

up

eggs

its

mass of earthy

in a

and which, by

into a ball,

drags into some spot exposed to the

it

sun's rays

upon

these, acting

it,

full

its

refuse,

hind legs,

power of the

When

hatch the eggs.

accomplished, the earthy matter breaks up, and

this is

To

the larvae issue forth.


typified

this

thus explained

is

of the

rebirth

of creation, and even

mysteries

the

mind of the Egyptians

the

The

Resurrection.

by the frequent use of

idea

supported

is

mummy

symbol on

this

the

cloths

and other things connected with the burial of the dead.

we have

In Fig. 12

the Christian symbol of the glory of

the head, the nimbus; and in Fig.

glory of the body.


a

Fig.

monogram composed

shows the symbol of Christ

18 the aureole, or

Greek

of the two

His eternal character.

symbol

of

Saviour's

sacrifice.

shows

the

Maltese, whilst

Fig.

Fig.

Fig. 6

of

15

is

This

is

the

is

the

and

the Cross

is

cross,

of

the

Latin form of cross.

Greek form,
17

14

to

Fig.

of St.

16

the

Andrew.

a classic symbol, the caduceus, or winged staff

Hermes, the god who,

commerce and

industry.

had the power of uniting

was

it

The

when giving a golden wand


it

Fig.

and a remembrance

Christianity,

His

Omega added

name, Chi and Rho, with Alpha and


indicate

letters of

to

said, presided

over

story runs that Apollo,

Hermes,

in love all

told

him

that

beings divided by

Plate XX.
MGt 2-

VMO 3

TIG 36

^^ 37

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

io6

Hermes,

hate.

to test

threw

it,

snakes which he found fiercely


ceased

they twined about each other in loving embrace,

round the

curling

and,

its

been

caduceus has

commerce and the


it

staff,

From

tached thereto.
the

down between two


The combat
fighting.
it

became permanently

industrial arts.

symbol

as

the

The

parts

accepted

Hermes,

with

association

at-

of

composing

each have separate symbolic meanings, thus: the

staff

power, the wings despatch, and the serpents wisdom.


Fig.

is

1 1

a modern symbol of handicraft

work directed by the


symbol of

thyrsus, a

and

Figs. 9

Two

intelligence.

festivity

i.e.,

of hand

forms of the

and gaiety, are shown

in

Its origin is attributed to the ancient

10.

practice of crowning a spear-head or a staff with bunches

of

vine-leaves

or fir-cones, for use

Bacchanalian revels.

The

in

dance

the

at

vine-leaves had reference to

the wine used on those occasions, and the fir-cones and


leaves to

fire,

because,

as the revels

were held

at night,

or in dark retreats, torches were used, and these were

made of the wood of fir-trees. Figs. 19, 23,


show the different ways in which torches can be

generally

and

24,

employed
upright

to symbolise various ideas.

position,

is

a symbol of

torch

was inverted

it

{see

naturally
Fig.

24),

Its

life.

position, as in Fig. 23, signifies death.

the flame ascending, as

Fig.

By

19, in

its

reversed

representing

would do when the


it

will

serve as an

INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS.

emblem

of death and resurrection.

tion, etc., is

Figs.

107

Progress of

civilisa-

symbolised by a winged wheel (Fig.

32 and

33,

29).

the trident and rudder, are nautical

emblems, and are associated with the sea-god Poseidon,

The

or Neptune.

lyre

and sistrum (Figs. 27 and 34)

are musical emblems, and, as before pointed out, can also

mnemonic

be used as

symbols of the drama

Figs.

signs.

tragedy

30 and 31

are

These

and comedy.

were derived from the ancient Greek practice of using

masks

special

during

its

to

indicate

the

characters of the
is

from

and represents the sacred tree of

life.

representation on the stage.

Assyrian

art,

Fig. 20

a symbol of the course of

is

play

Fig. 26

human

life,

and

is

The

of frequent occurrence in Renaissance decoration.

upright position of the symbol indicates the beginning or


start in

life,

and leads on

diverge to right and


25 are examples

left

of

ornamentally treated

which abounds

modern

in

to the point

to good and

evil.

mnemonic ornament

Figs. 22

and

inscription

and Fig. 22 from the Moresque,

this

class of

ornament.

Fig.

25

is

the letters of the quotation are interwoven and

treated as ornamental elements.

With

symbols are combined to indicate the

wings

where the roads

at

this
flight

inscription

of time

each end, and a winged hour-glass in the

centre.

The

objects grouped in Fi g 28 are used to symbolise


.

UNIVERSITY
.California

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

108

Monograms

learning and literature.

are often used in

decorative designs, and consist of letters interlaced, as

shown

Fig.

at

When, however,

36.

the

are

letters

reversed and more intricately combined so as to be less

and

easily read, they are called ciphers (see Figs. 35

grouping

In

elements

tools,

together,

filling panels,

musical

or

centre ornaments

as

either

instruments,

$j).

other
or for

other industrial products, such as draperies,

ribbons, and cords, occur and are of very great use,

draperies for giving flexible masses


together,
in

for

practice,

effect

filling

and

awkward spaces which

also

likely to result

for

relieving

in

and suspended,
the

it is

when

of ribbon

to

for

but, primarily, in actual

them

inevitable

mode

in

as

knots,

of treatment

the lines of exquisite

beauty which they reveal, not only

is

the decoration

present

The

form as possible.

be carefully studied

Their value

material

desirable not to hide, but to show,

bows, and ends connected with this


should

detail.

the objects are strung together

means of suspension, and

pleasant

heaviness of

the

some arrangements. In

of an upright panel,

often occur

from the use of massive

The employment and development


comes naturally

ribbons for tying

in historic

examples,

ones formed of different materials.

mostly to be appreciated

in conjunction

with other elements, but even used by themselves they


furnish very fair

ornament

(see

headpiece,

page 10 1).

Plate XXI.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

no

The
the
in

flying ends of ribbons

assume a variety of curves,

movements of which have been taken advantage of


Sometimes we have a simple flowing

historic art.

movement

(a),

ness of flow

at other times the

is

smooth-

by a rippling of

relieved

the surface, which adds materially to the


richness of effect

On

(b).

XVIII.

Plate

are given examples of ribbons, narrow draperies, and

knots

sketched

from

origin

of these

details

of

illustrations

historic

armour,

examples of the

tools,

Fig.

etc.

(see

Figs,

treatment

the

ribbons will be found on Plate


to

show the

which so frequently occur

the ornament of different periods

Further

to

material,

actual

XXL,
is

and

which

ornamental

to

is

in

n).

use

of

devoted

grouping of

group of

musical

instruments strung together by drapery, an example of

French decoration of the eighteenth century.


is

Fig.

a cluster of instruments consisting of a tambourine,

trumpets and
olive-leaves.

flutes,

with which are entwined wreaths of

The whole group

is

suspended

by

ribbon, the flying ends of which have a rippled surface.


Fig. 3

is

a modern example of a decorative arrangement

of tools by the late Alfred Stevens, and shows a very


skilful

Fig. 4

adjustment of unpromising ornamental material.


is

a panel decoration, composed of shields tied

together with ribbons.

Fig. 5

is

taken from a piece of

INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS.

sixteenth century Italian pottery.

in

In this example the

ribbons play an important part, and are ingeniously used


to

fill

up the somewhat awkward spaces between the

groups of arms,

labels, etc.;

although the result

is

not

altogether satisfactory, for the redundancy and fluttered

character of this element conveys a feeling of unrest and

want of repose.

Fig. 6

is

modern design composed of

musical instruments and art objects, with foliage appropriate to the

idea of the composition.

the foregoing examples

it

will

On

comparing

be seen that where the

elements are" so different in form and

the groups are

suspended, the arrangements are upon the principle of

Balance

but where the

forms are selected

for their

similarity of shape,

and the groups are merely superposed

on a ground,

which they adhere

to

approach more or

less to

for support,

a Symmetrical order.

they

CHAPTER

VII

VEGETABLE ELEMENTS.

WE
the

first

have now

to consider those classes of

elements

which are derived directly from nature, taking

Here the

subdivision, namely, vegetable forms.

material presented to the ornamentist

is

both varied and

abundant, capable of easy adaptation to his requirements.

The

history of decorative art

ment of such

material,

shows the constant employ-

and exhibits

also great variety of

treatment, from the realistic to the severely conventional


at

times dangerously near

to

be consistent with good ornament,

only suggesting

produced

ment

the

realistically,

to

too

originals.

literal

When

at

transcription

other times

plants

are

re-

they cannot be regarded as orna-

because they show no attempt

adaptation, principles which

lie at

at

idealism or

the root of

all

good

VEGETABLE ELEMENTS.
Therefore, except for symbolic or

ornament.

purposes, plants should not have a


for,

113

interpretation

literal

as Sir Gardiner Wilkinson points out

tion of natural

objects,

mnemonic

"

The

imita-

mere ornamental purposes,

for

usually disagrees both with the material used and the

place where they are introduced

of poverty of invention, and


design."

Omega

So-called

also an indication

a deficiency of taste

decorative

who,

nature-worship,

often

in their

grossly

in

whose Alpha and

art,

consist in the copying of natural details,

refuge of the ignorant,

violate

the

is

narrow view of
her

and

laws

In the study of plants for decorative pur-

principles.

poses,

it is

become acquainted

necessary that one should

it is

not only with the ideal forms of leaves and flowers, as set
forth in

Chapter IV., "Lessons on Decorative Design," but

also with their

life's

the

their habits,

history from the cradle to the grave,

conditions

under which they

and the nature of the curves that

Rose and

suggest.
artist

The

be

tree should

their varied
infinitely

thrive,

growths

more

to

an

than they are to a mere cultivator of flowers.


latter

may

revel

in

and the doubleness of

the

his

symmetry of

blooms

but

his

the

plants

former

should discover other beauties than those which consist

of a

in

" well-shaped

" doubled

simplicity

of

flower."

form

are

shrub

"

or in

the

complexity

Suggestiveness of line and


of

more importance

to

the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

114

decorator than the peculiarities of the latest product of


the scientific cultivator.

Consider plants
flowers,

and

gestions

fruits,

are

roots, stems, leaves,

and what a boundless store of sug-

presented

to

us

Yet how

little

some

themselves of them, being satisfied to

designers avail
repeat old

in their entirety

conventional

or

forms,

take

to

most

the

ordinary ready-to-hand treatments of natural forms, or


culling

from the pages of some "herbal," and never

troubling

themselves by personal

inspiring

motives with

them.

For

instance,

which nature

how

often do

naturalistic

panel decoration pots

start-points,

till

Not

one

is

research

sick of their

that pots in themselves are

those

surrounded

has

we

for

see in so-called

and vases used as


wearisome

bad as

the contrary, they are reasonable ones

repetition.

start-points,
;

but

it

is

on
their

constant repetition, to the neglect of those furnished by

nature

the

in

The many

varied roots from

different forms roots

which plants spring.

assume

afford admirable

much more might be done with them


than has been attempted.
On Plate XXII. are given
some types of roots, and Figs. 1-9 show their simple
suggestions, and

ornamental rendering.

Figs. 10-13

show the adaptation

of plants, with their natural start-points.

given the adaptation of the white


fancifully

shaped space, the earth

lily

In Fig. 10
to

is

a somewhat

line entering into

com-

Plate XXII.

TGJ
I

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

u6

with the bulb and root.

position

Fig.

12

a study

is

from the couch grass, and shows a further ornamental


treatment of the ground through which the underground

stem of the plant runs

Fig.

the top view of a plant,

1 1,

showing the fibrous root developed

tracery,

into

accented so as to form a contrast with the foliage.


13

and

foliage of the parsnip to a vertical border, the

between the tracery of the

introduced

tones

being suggested by the element


grows.

These examples

growth,

which

work

that

too

is

its

leaves

departure

intervening

which
kind,

axis

In

an

in

either

'

if

even

more than one


to arrest
will

distinct

by

it

a'

one

is

in

law pertaining

but

the

of

the

of

the

earth

in

^'

be, this

law has been

never so

;i>

start-point

is

used, a stop

plant

is

introduced

and

harmony fh^LdM^fe!?
to

thickening

line

may

^a^"J/^
5^*-\
Z^~
<cr^
<

appendages of

the

the flow, as at

be seen,

points

good ornament of a flowing

all

and,

have

ornamental

in

opposite

by the

however conventional

observed, thus

neglected

direction,

or

portion,

grows.

it

naturally

an important law of

growths

one

marked

is

it

rootlets

ascending axis of a plant throwing

in

descending

the

often

which

in

illustrate

reversed

of departure, the
off

Fig.

the conventional treatment and adaptation of the

is

root

and

>';

^P^^

with
life.

this,

it

the

Plate XXIII.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

n8

In

and

all

their general composition should

for the

for

stems

naturalistic treatments, the direction of

may be

ornamental lines that

decorative

purposes.

obtained from any plant

be closely studied

abstracted from

them

follows that the lines so

It

be better suited

will

for build-

ing up a design founded on that plant than those of a

purely inventive character

between the
first

there

will

and the general construction

detail

case that will be wanting in the

XXIII.

are given

some sketches

young hawthorn,

Fig. 3

the

is

latter.

of trees,

therefrom, for decorative purposes.


a

be a sympathy

On

Plate

and abstractions

Fig.

i,

ornamentally treated

is

in the

drawn from
Fig.

in

2.

an ornamental rendering of a pine-tree shown


Fig.

sketch,

realistic

pattern, Fig.

4, is

The ornamental

6.

in

frieze

based upon the lines derived from an

and 8 are decorative

espalier cherry-tree.

Figs.

tree forms, the lines of

which are abstracted from nature,

taken

kind
Plate

from Italian
will

textiles.

7,

5,

Other forms of a similar

be found on Plate XV., Figs.

XXIV.

abstraction

are given

of

lines

some

getting fresh ornamental elements.

Figs.

1,

2,

3,

4,

5,

will

and

6,

and

2.

On

further illustrations of the

from nature

which they were taken

for

the

purpose of

The drawings from

be found on Plate
Plate

XXIV.

are

XXV.
simple

analytic lines taken from the corresponding figures on

Plate

XXV.

Figs.

7, 8,

9,

10,

and

12,

Plate

XXIV.,

Plate XXIV.

FGJ

university)

Plate XXV.

VEGETABLE ELEMENTS.
show abstracted
and

16,

17,

XXV.,

drawn from the same


of

its

growth.

method

the

and forms from Figs.

lines

Plate

121

12,

9,

with others,

which,

13,

were

tulip flower in the various stages

Figs. 13 to 20, Plate

XXIV., demonstrate

of dealing with abstracted forms in building

up new ornamental

details;

and

serration of edges,

in

Figs.

13 to 17 by simple

Figs. 18, 19, and 20

superposition of tones and lines,

by the

resulting in the pro-

duction of varied elements suitable for use in designs of


a conventional type.

The

lower part of Plate XXIII.

examples of patterns based upon


cloud and

forms.

and Fig. 10

nature,
is

wave

its

occupied with

is

lines abstracted

Fig. 9 shows

a sketch

ornamental interpretation.

from

from
Fig.

a drawing from nature of waves breaking upon the

shore,

and Figs.

of the same.

and 12 give ornamental treatments

11

In Pig. 14 are

shown cloud forms from

Japanese book.
Again, leaves

in their various stages of

from the bud state to their

final

development,

expansion, together with

their surface decoration

by veining, superposition of tone

and

shapes

to

colour,

the

The
life,

and

the

ornamentist

of

their

margins,

abundant hints and

offer

suggestions.

purity of form and line observable in early plant

the graceful lines of the tender branches, and the

exquisite shapes of leaf-buds, should

command

attention

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

122

and

careful study.

patient investigation of

alone, in early Spring-time,


for

many

Fig.
it

are

the

is

would amply repay the student,

the

shown

graceful

are given a few studies of early leaf-buds.


Fig. 2

lilac.

is

from the sycamore, and

way

in

particular notice.

in

growth of the buds

different stages in the

which the lower one leaves the

stem, and the composition of line

it

displays,

worthy of

is

Further developments of the buds of

sycamore are shown

the

On

a hidden delight would be revealed to him.

XXVI.

Plate

bud forms

in

Figs.

8,

9,

and

10,

11.

Attention should be given in Fig. 9 to the termination


of the upper scale of the bud envelope, which

resembling a sculptured

finial.

buds of the horse-chestnut


ment.

They

Figs.

is

3, 4, 5, 6,

in various

foliated,

and

7 are

degrees of develop-

are characterised by a sturdy and vigorous

growth, and the forms composing the envelope have

very pronounced shapes.

Figs. 12, 13, 14,

and 15 were

sketched from the buds of the ash-tree.

While
been

less

leaves,

and the forms of leaf-buds, may have

regarded than their quiet beauty

same cannot be

said of flowers.

Their

justifies,

-brilliancy

the

has

caused them to be universally admired, and as a con-

sequence they are largely used as an element


mental art of

all styles.

They

are

in orna-

more pronounced

styles of a naturalistic character, but modified in

in

what are

usually considered conventional styles, such, for instance,

Plate XXVI.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

124

Greek and Roman.

as the

made

has been
reason

ill

accord with the con-

ventional lines prevailing in classic ornament


find

use

Anything approaching a natura-

rendering of them would

listic

little

of positive forms of flowers, and the

not far to seek.

is

In these styles but

and so

we.

most

that the terminations to scrolls consist for the

part of groups of leaves disposed in a multi-symmetrical

or bi-symmetrical manner, on the principles observed in

modern

In

flowers.

practice the results of the classic

method have been adopted, and few attempts appear


to

have been made

further develop the application

to

of similar principles to those which animated the


ancient

open

although

times,

of

as

illustrated

the

utilised

masters,

nature

still

is

book on elementary botany, and note the

student

thoughtful

if

of

Glance down the pages of any

yore.

various orders of inflorescence

how many

book

work of

search

in

and

it

of ideas

must

the

same way

would lead

to

good

as

of which,

all

was done by the old

results.

For example,

take the simplest form of inflorescence, the spike


small
its

diagrams on Plate XXVII.), and adapt

principle of growth,

we have
scroll,

while

character

of

Taking

perfectly consistent with

harmonises well with the

the

it.

(see

and not any individual specimen,

termination
it

any

and principles

suggestions are here presented,


in

strike

border

pattern

(see

the

longitudinal

Fig.

i,

same

Plate XXVII.

warn

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

126

On

plate).

again

taking

adopting the principle,

number of
it

flowers on a disc

and

capitulum

the

which
or

the

merely

placing

of

head, as diagram

b,

is

admirably compose with the spiral lines of the

will

XXVII.,

(Plate

scroll

Fig.

Fig.

2).

shows

the

application of the principle of an unfolding leaf-bud to

the

a scroll

of

finish

Fig.

4,

the

ornamental ex-

pression of the principle of the glomerule (diagram


Fig.

f)

the application of the principle of the scorpioid

5,

(diagram d) to a wave line pattern.

In Fig. 6

is

shown

a scroll termination based upon the umbel (diagram


Fig. 7

Flowers being the crowning glory of plants,

they

as

mostly

are

distinct colouring,

is

it

made conspicuous by

their

that they should

have

essential

some emphasis, whether expressed by

The purpose

mass.
fruit

c).

a diaper arranged on the lines of the umbel and

is

scorpioid.

and

of plant

life

is

line,

space, or

the production of

The

and seeds, whereby they are propagated.

forms which carry the seeds assume a variety of shapes,

and are suitable

many
more

require but

little

On

Figs.

and Figs.

Plate

and
3, 4,

is

XXVIII.

2 are

and

by that interesting

Very

adaptation, as their forms

and regular than

set

leaves.

the needs of the decorator.

to

are

the case with flowers and

are given examples.

the seed vessels of the nasturtium,

give the different forms assumed

plant,

"love-in-a-mist."

Fig.

Plate XXVIII.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

128

presents front forms of the wild rose.

show the seed

16

glove.

Fig.

is

<c

heads

"

and 12 are given the

11,

10,

9,

tomato a

useful form

for bold deco-

In Fig. 17 are given sketches of the

The ornamental

sweet pea.

when they

present

lines,

the

liberate

of a very attractive character

many

furnish

will

once a quaint and sug-

at

is

of different kinds of poppies, and Fig. 14 shows

the fruit of the


ration.

and

common

the seed receptacle of the

In Figs.

15,

7,

and appendages of the fox-

vessels

garden marigold, which


gestive form.

Figs.

a bold

of the

which the envelopes


generally

are

seeds,

and the study of them

decorative

the cone of the fir-tree

fruit

Fig.

hint.

shows

18

form richly ornamented.

It is

a natural example of decoration by oblique striping,

and

in

respect

this

offers

contrast

to

the

vertical

divisions seen in such forms as the tomato, poppy, " lovein-a-mist," etc.

Algae,
material;
tion

or

sea-weeds,

abundant ornamental

and should not be neglected,

of their

varieties

search and research.


their use

furnish

is

will

well

for

an investiga-

repay the trouble of

For designs of a

nautical character

obvious enough, but their employment need

not be restricted to any special purpose any

other forms of vegetable

which are drawn


possibilities of

some

life.

See

Plate

more than

XXIX., on

sea-weeds having decorative

decided character.

At the bottom

of the

Plate XXIX.

Plate XXX.

VEGETABLE ELEMENTS.
same

131

examples of

plate are sketched a few selected

shells

Fungi and mosses

as suggestive forms for ornament.

should be studied, as they also have great decorative


value.

On

principally

Plate

XXX.

shown some

are

drawn from examples appearing

" Herbal."

The

grouping and

the

shapes of

Gerard's

in

line in the

infinite variety of

in

varieties,

them

render

fungi,

attractive to the eye of the decorator

natural

while the rich

convolutions and continuity of the repetitions in mosses


are of nearly equal interest, and their suitability to serve

the

purposes

organisation

is

to

plants

of

once obvious and suggestive.

at

regarding ferns,
carefully

backgrounds

of

it

is

higher

Again,

quite worth the student's while to

examine the spores and

way they

the

are

disposed on the undersides of the fronds, not only on

account of the
disclose,

many

examination

beautiful forms

will

but for the lessons he will receive in surface

enrichment by superposition of
distribution of masses.

On

Plate

detail

XXXI.

and the varied


are given

some

drawings made from ferns while under the microscope,

showing the various orders


vessels

are

arranged

Lower down on
hints of the way

The

veining

in

the plate

in

which these curious seed

spots,

groups,

some sketches

these arrangements

and

stripes.

are given as

may be

utilised.

seen in the cut timber of trees

may

profitably arrest the attention of the student of design,

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

132

not for the purposes of imitation, like house decorators'


" graining," but for the sake of the beauty of individual
lines

and

this

kind of natural decoration are here given.

their

harmonious arrangement.

Illustrations of

No.

T4<M

is

No.

from a plank of pitch-pine.


a

piece

of

2 is

carpenter's

finial

work,

from

in

the

same wood,

in

grain

with the form, and result

in

fall

in

quaint

which the

kind

of

lines

of the

decoration,

re-

minding one somewhat of savage ornamentation.

No. 3

is

taken from a moulding occurring

on a piece of furniture made of birchwood.


lines flow

from the concave to the convex, as

specially for the purpose.


is

The

Here the
if

designed

headpiece to Chapter

a design based upon wood-graining.

Plants

II.

may be

Plate XXXI.

FGJ

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

134

used

any of the modes indicated

in

by

either

or

etc.,

"chequering,"

festoon, or scroll,

basis of the

be secured
selection
easily

such

to

harmony between the

two

different

of those

conform

to

plants

ways

whose

and

details

and

either

spiral,

and the

may

this

by a

careful

growths

natural

detail,

conventional

the

appearance of copied nature

By

adapt

will

them, or by a process of abstraction,

using them for the creation of

with

To
wave,

the

i.e.,

I.

''striping,"

order.

as

lines

or

ornament must be preserved


in

the natural

Chapter

"diapering,"

any other geometrical

in

however,

them,

in

so that in combining
there

may be no

allied with unnatural

lines.

the latter method has the so-called acanthus scroll

been generated.

foliage

In the " Lessons on Decorative Design," the develop-

ment of

Gothic period,

this class of foliage, as far as the

has been dealt with; and

it

will

only be necessary here to

point out that the Renaissance style which followed, re-

vived the classic forms, infused into them renewed vigour,


turn

but in
will

illustrate this.

sixteenth

the antique

ment on
this

decadence.

On

XXXII.

Plate

be found a few selected examples of historic art

which
the

suffered

Fig.

century,

not

classic lines

i,

from Italian carved work of

shows

distinctly

revival

of

mere reproduction, but a developand methods.

The

leading lines of

design flow with grace and in melodious order

the

Plate XXXII.

^WM<vu

MMwnU'tfrrnniMMiiii-m^ ffiwW3 HMitw> iM itinTt

HjllllllliJillllMin

lifllHlllllllllllllllM

'FIGr

(S

T=vo.7

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

136

details clothing

disposed as

to

them are

carefully thought out,

and so

any monotony of direction by

relieve

The

arresting the attention with various pleasing forms.

from which the ornament starts

foliage

vigorous,

and the

free terminations of the scrolls

of the composition,

remembrance the lovely


forms which

abound

effect of this

example

which
to

its

it is

strong and

have a

Notwithstanding the so-called conven-

delicate grace.
tionality

is

based, and

it

forcibly brings

leaf- edges

is

The whole

beautiful because of the truth on

its

consistency throughout

Towards the end of the sixteenth

beauty.

our

and beautiful bud

growths.

in natural

to

is

equal

century,

however, from various causes, chiefly dexterity of hand

and

less frequent reference to nature, signs of

began to show themselves

the

characteristics of natural foliage

crispness

were

decadence

and other

and

less

less ex-

pressed, and the points of the leaves ran into weak-looking


curves,

and the vigour, which was such a marked feature

of cinque-cento work, was ultimately

teenth

In the seven-

lost.

and eighteenth centuries the degradation of a

noble detail

is

still

more apparent, and

it,

in

common

with other ornamental elements, suffered in a marked


degree.

The

points of the

squareness of treatment was given up, the


leaves

became attenuated and

twisted,

while the general design betrayed carelessness in composition.

On

reference to Figs. 2 and 6

it

will

be seen

VEGETABLE ELEMENTS.

137

was the aim of the

that effect, rather than beauty,

artists

of these periods, and such effect as could be obtained by


the use of violent contrasts of line, form, and light and

To

shade.

such an extent was this carried, that in the

phase of the

last

character,

curves

style, the "

Rococo," the foliage

lost all

and consisted of mere bundles of unmeaning


Fortunately, at a

(see Fig. 7).

later period,

still

a revulsion took place in favour of a better form of art


a revulsion brought about by the discoveries of ancient

Greco-Roman decoration

known

formation of the style

5),

"

this

style."

Although

and

in this

country as the

was an attempt

forward a more classic style of design, yet


with

difference,

forgotten,

and

for

their

the

Fig.

thin

and

One

"Rococo," which long survived


1

85

demonstrated

is

to

its

practice

be seen

foliage,

for the better did not

employment of the over-free and


of

result

classic

were not

styles

somewhat attenuated

This change

4.

art.

to bring

was

it

remembrance influenced the

of the newer form of


in

previous

the

to the

France by the name of

in

" Louis Seize "(Figs. 4 and

Adams

This led

Pompeii.

at

as

in

check the

rollicking style of the

and the great Exhibition

existence as a favourite style

for all classes of industrial art.

The
the

festoon,

catenary,

or

which consists of the decoration of


swag,

with

largely used in decorative art,

floral

and

is

details,

has

been

useful for obtaining

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF

138

DESIGN..

contrasting lines or for the purpose of securing unity

The

in a design.

developed festoons are composed

fully

of two start-points, from which they hang, and of sheaths,

out of which issue the

fruit,

and leaves

flowers,

these

generally increasing in bulk towards the central or lowest

thus

part,

Sjk

Their treatment should vary

Jjj

^^U--^

according

to the character of the design

composition into which

or

they enter, whether

light,

fanciful, dignified, or severe.

The
toon,

is

historic records of art

show

that the swag, or fes-

based upon three simple types, more or

less invol-

ving the catenary curve.

The

first is like

a simple

N.J.^ \j

p^

^^JL^

hanging cord or chain,


having the same weight throughout
the second
in

bunches

is

entire course

its

like a necklace, the details

being arranged

the third, thicker in the middle and gradu-

ating upwards,

somewhat resembles a piece of hanging

The

order of development, from the simplest

drapery.

form of festoon to the


first

the

elaboration

and

which the
the

of the

appears to have been

parts

near the points

of

by the addition of some purely inventive

suspension
shapes,

richest,

by the

details of

arrangement of the ribbons on


the

swag

marking of the central

are strung

and

curve by some pronounced feature.

lower

and then

part

of

the

Festoons arranged

VEGETABLE ELEMENTS.
according to the

strictly

139

type can never be quite

first

satisfactory in themselves, because of the

want of gra-

though they may serve special purposes.

dation,

It will

be found that when they are based on the third type,

whether made continuous or interrupted


the

details

their design will


is

composed

are

in

graduated

be of a brighter quality.

undoubtedly of

festal origin.

The

when

i.e.,

quantities

The

festoon

stringing together

of fruits and flowers with ribbons and draperies for the

adornment of buildings on joyous occasions, whether


secular or religious, would

be the readiest

natural form of decoration for the purpose,


to

have been indulged

The

in

and most

and appears

from very early times.

beauty of the lines into which these extempo-

raneous decorations naturally

fell

struck the eyes of artistic

who, taking advantage of the suggestions presented,

folk;

were led

to construct

more enduring form,

XXXIII.

is

ornaments from them, but

in painting

and carving.

On

in

Plate

given a variety of examples, showing various

treatments of this ornament from the simplest form to


the most ornate.

Fig.

9,

from the Greco-Roman,

simple one, based upon the


to, in

first

which the elements composing

the

same

details

type previously alluded

one direction and without gradation.


to the

is

style, is a festoon of

it

are repeated in

Fig. 10, belonging

more complete form

graduating from the points of suspension

Plate XXXIII

VEGETABLE ELEMENTS.
towards the centre, which

Greco-Roman,
a

Roman

is

is

well marked.

Fig.

a compact and severe form.

sculptured example,

construction

141

3,

also

Fig. 14,

heavy and compact

is

in

the ribbon with which the leaves and fruits

are tied together becomes a feature in the design

bows

of ribbon form the start-points, and the middle of the


festoon
Fig. 7

accented by the crossing of this material.

is

an early Italian specimen,

is

graduate

one direction only.

in

example, possessing
simple in form.

all

source,

is

Fig. 2

made

Fig.

which the
is

details

also an Italian

the essentials of a festoon, but very


is

a richer example of Italian

work of the sixteenth century.


same

in

still

Fig. 4, another from the

richer

by the use of a greater

variety of detail and a further elaboration of the ribbon


Fig. 5

is

a somewhat later example, and

the second type

and made

is

arranged upon

the ends of the ribbon being prolonged

to play a

part

greater

in

the composition.

Figs. 11

and 12 are simple forms based on the same

type, the

one incorporating

conventional ones.

naturalistic details, the

Figs. 15

other

and 16 are taken from

late

French Renaissance, and show the use of drapery with


natural group of fruit
20,

and

21,

mostly

and

leaves.

Italian, are

Figs. 13, 17, 18, 19,

given to show the varied

treatment of the parts next to the points of suspension,

by the use of ribbon,

floral,

and architectural forms.

CHAPTER

VIII.

ANIMAL ELEMENTS.

of natural elements

the second sub-division


IN have
those derived from

quadrupeds, birds,

less naturalistic

more

animate nature, such as

fish, reptiles,

always been largely used

manner.

difficult to treat

in

and

fact that

art in a

more or

animate forms are

ornamentally than inanimate ones,

not deter the old artists from

did

These have

insects.

ornamental

The

we

their use

on the

contrary, they grappled with the difficulties because they

were

fully

alive to

increased interest that

the

forms would give to their compositions.


art

instances occur of their

with

the

interlaced

mote

periods.

those

times

In

point

appear to

In prehistoric

employment

ornaments
of

have

peculiar

fact,

the

restricted

animal

in

to

art

connection
those re-

workers of

themselves in

ANIMAL ELEMENTS.
choice

their

of

143

from nature to the use of

materials

animals only as ornamental elements, rarely using vege-

The
man in

table forms.
that

fact

interest

in

reason for this


his

be found

to

which

in the

had an intense

early condition

animals

those

is

aided

him

his

in

struggle for existence, such as the horse, dog, reindeer,

His

etc.

interest

recorded by the addition of their

is

representation to his other ornamental details, and arose

from

his admiration of their usefulness rather than

any appreciation of
business in

their beauty of form.

then

life

from

Man's chief

being the provision

for

natural

wants and for his own protection, the liking for any

was inspired by

particular object, natural or otherwise,


fitness of

purpose rather than by aesthetic considerations.

The hard

conditions of his

awakening of
only

in

the

did not conduce to the

dormant sense of beauty, and so

his
later

reached, that he

life

when an

periods,

became

easier

led

to

many

is

was

alive to the beauty prevailing

throughout the whole natural world.

doubt that symbolism

state

it

in the early

There

is

little

days of historic art

of the animal details found in the later

epochs, such, for instance, as

griffins,

dragons, and other

grotesques.

In the history of

of any " style "

much may

art, it

owes much

differ

the

is

seen that the formation

to a preceding one,

ruling

principles

however

which animate


THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

144

Hence,

them.

development

the

in

an

of

aesthetic

ornamental system, details were often borrowed from


a symbolic one on account of their
as

vehicle

offering a

for

graceful

and

artistic merits,

There

expression.

being no need or intention to set forth any mystical

meaning
directed

in

adopting such forms, the sole attention was

emphasizing

to

and

refining

which would harmonise with other


In Egyptian and Assyrian

characteristics

details of the style.

art,

we

find the use

of

composite animals, for conveying to the beholder distinct


ideas.

To

put a

or

is,

from a

bull

human head on

the body of a lion

matter-of-fact point of

view,

monstrous proceeding, but, regarded from a symbolic


standpoint,

it

To

perfectly justifiable.

is

convey the

idea of strength and intelligence combined, what better

plan could have been adopted than to select a creature

having great physical power, and then to give

human

head, which

lectual

force

in

owe

animals
principle

Other forms of composite

origin to the exercise of the

by taking the forms of

idea.

On

Plate

same

certain creatures,

for the sake of their chief characteristics,

them with other forms

the symbol of the highest intel-

nature

their

i.e.,

is

it

and combining

for the expression of a concrete

XXXIV.

are

given examples

of

these fabulous animals, creations of art in early times,

and upon which

the grotesques

of later times

have

Plate XXXIV.

SPHINX

N-WTUR.AU USOUOHIK

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

146

Some

been founded.

The
bird,

The

of these

thus explained

composed of the body of a

griffin,

and wings,

which contribute to

qualities

lion,

head of a

and

this idea of watchful-

Alertness

swiftness.

accented by the forward position of the ears, as

if

was often used by the Greeks


of

acroteria

pediment

the

of gateways

wyvern

is

to

for adorning the

and

of their temples,

modern times

appropriately used in

to

to

The

catch the slightest sound of approaching danger.


griffin

regarded as a symbol of watchfulness.

is

ness, are strength, alertness,


is

may be

is

crown the piers

The

mansions and public buildings.

a winged serpent, with bird's head and legs,

and has the same symbolic meaning, although other


qualities are

added

such as subtlety and wisdom, indi-

cated by the serpent body,

and alertness

in

hours of

darkness, by the bat-like form of the wings.

The

chimaera

lion, goat,

is

a monster combining the forms of

and serpent, from whose mouth

issue flames,

The

typifying a volcanic mountain in Greece.


for the combination of the creatures

is

thus given

top of the mountain was the resort of lions

of goats

while the foot of

it

was

reason

the

the middle,

infested with veno-

Hence it became the symbol of terror


and devastation. The dragon, a winged reptile, was an
earlv emblem of the evil forces of the natural and moral
mous snakes.

world.

It

combines

in its

formation the terror-inspiring

ANIMAL ELEMENTS.
character of the lizard and serpent, and the swiftness

of action which belongs to creatures possessing wings.

To

intensify

as belching
is

its

potency for

forth

evil, it

flames of

often represented

is

By some

fire.

writers

thought that the root from which the name

is

it

derived

points to the probability of the term having been applied


to

meteors or shooting

stars,

which, in early times, were

regarded as potents of disaster and

evil.

given of the natural dragon, so named from

The

blance to the fabulous creature.


bird of very beautiful plumage,

of

some hundreds of

a funeral

years,

is

to

sketch
its

resem-

phcenix, a female

supposed, after a

have

is

built

life

for herself

which with her wings she fanned into

pile,

flames and was consumed, but afterwards rose from the

ashes in

all

the freshness of youth.

This

is

symbol of resurrection and immortality.

winged horse,

is

Pegasus,

or

the adopted symbol of poetical aspiration,

from the supposition that


the Muses.

the accepted

it

had been

in the service

Besides this winged horse of the land,

of

we

have sea-horses, with and without wings, used as emblems


of the

watery element, which are generally associated

with Poseidon, or Neptune, and the Nereids.


horse, partly horse
affixed

to

the

and partly

forepart,

at

fish,

the

fin-like in

character,

sea-

has fishy appendages


elbow,

extremities of the limbs; and the wings,

become

The

and

at

the

when added,

and may be regarded as


L

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

148

developments

of

the

pectoral

name hippocampus is applied


same term is used to designate
of which a sketch

to

The

fishes.

sea-horse

the

a curious

Below the

given.

is

of

fins

creature,

little

latter

are drawings of the dolphin in nature and

the

examples

art, to

show

the points of difference and agreement between them.


Fig.

on the same Plate

is

a prehistoric example of the

use of a bird form appropriately applied to indicate the


progress of the sun through the heavens.

Fig. 2

is

an

early Celtic illustration of the termination of tracery or

animal forms.

The

and varied

interlacing

with

growths of

plants, with their multitudinous repetition of

free

them

parts, enable the ornamentist to easily adapt

to his

requirements without violence to their nature.

But

the

in

case

number of

the prescribed
organisation
limit

forms

parts

it

is

different

belonging

to

in

met

difficulties

their

must be regarded, and thus a narrower

accompanies their employment, presenting

culties

not

of animal

the

way of

with

successful

dealing

in

adaptation

with

which are greater or

less,

that

vegetable

diffi-

are

nature

according to their

biological rank.

To

successfully

ornamental lines

it

combine natural forms with purely


is

necessary that

we should

analyse

them, in order to ascertain the general flow of line that


exists in their composition,

and thus

to secure

harmony

ANIMAL ELEMENTS.
in

the combination.

plants,

If this

how much more

animal

forms!

accurately

is

important

it

must be when using

less

accurate

while

it

may be

it

in

in

for these

possible to

may have
the first may

composition and continuity of

in

the latter these

It is

is

totally

representation which

high decorative quality, for the reason that

be wanting

and

carefully

to

draw an animal form, and yet


;

adapting

necessary in

possible

quite

a decorative purpose

unfit for

have a

It

is

149

may be

line,

while

preserved and emphasized.

reasons that

barbaric ornament are so

some animal forms found


often

ornamentally true,

while their accuracy, from a realistic point of view,

is

defective.

we

Besides the inclusion of animals in decoration

have the amalgamation of animal forms with ornament.


This

practice, dating

from prehistoric times, has survived

tinuance of this

some extent explains the conmethod of treating animated nature.

Other reasons

be given, when considering the highest

in

modern

art,

and

will

to

organic form, the

human

natural elements.

Birds are particularly useful in adding

figure, in

our

last division

They

variety and interest to ornamental compositions.

are

graceful

in

themselves,

and

associate

of

well

and

pleasantly with ornament based upon vegetable nature.

In scroll work, while their general shapes

may

flow in

with the lines of the ornament, the variety of action

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

ISO

opportunities

offers

and

brilliancy

adding

for

force, relieving the

contrast

and giving

tendency to monotony

from the use of oft-recurring curves.

On
the

XXXV.

Plate

ornamental

Fig.

i,

dog

treatment
in

quadrupeds and birds.

of

running after a

the act of

adapted to undulating
in Fig.

given a few examples of

are

lines

bird,

clothed with foliage

is

and

a are given the analytic lines which regulate

the composition.

Figs.

and

are

examples, from

sixteenth century Italian stone carving, of the adaptation

of bird forms to ornamental foliage, and Figs. 2b and

show the
Fig.

is

arrangement of birds and conventional

an

foliage taken from

severe

in

3^:

which form the bases of the designs.

lines

wood

Indian

but

treatment,

the

carving.

It is

whole pattern

rather
is

well

Fig. /^d gives the abstracted lines devoid of

disposed.

and 6 are sketches from nature, and

details.

Figs. 5

Figs. $e

and 6/ respectively show the ornamental lines

that are to be found in them,

when adapting
Fig.

is

and which should be studied

these elements to ornamental purposes.

sketch

of a

dog, given to illustrate the

arrangement of the parts of the limbs, which


those of

human beings

further

should

start,

illustrates
if

from

the extremities consisting of an

elongation of the bones of the hand and


figure

differ

required

the place
i.e.,

foot.

This

from which wings

from the spine of

the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

152

scapular or blade-bone.

we have

In Fig. 8

the adapta-

tion of a deer to an oblong panel.

Supplemental to

Plate are given drawings of

this

On

wings and wing structure.

XXXVI.,

Plate

Fig.

shows a wing stripped of the coverts, revealing the bony

By comparing

structure.

human arm,

Fig.

but

structure,

it

2,

be seen that

will

adapted

specially

drawing of the

this with the

by

is

it

readjustment

parts to the purposes of flight through the

what answers

to the wrist

a similar

and fingers of the

proceed the long or primary feathers

of

From
human limb
air.

to the underside

of the forearm are attached the next important feathers

the

secondaries

while the humerus, or upper arm,

carries the tertiaries,

and

to the

small feathers forming what


3
is

is

thumb

are attached

called the winglet.

shows the structure of the wing of a


a different arrangement, but again

it is

an adapted arm; in

membrane
forearm

thumb

is
is

it

Fig.

Here there

bat.
will

some

be seen that

this case, the substitution of a thin

for the feathers favours noiseless flight.

extended, and the fingers lengthened

developed into a hook, by which

when

The

and the

^^^

shape,

/0^_
V

though agreeing with a general form, which,

^7\_^

the

The wings
however,

The

suspends

creature

of birds

itself

are

differs materially

varieties

result

various

in

at

from that of

rest.

bats.

from the development of

parts

Plate XXXVI.

\A/I

NOUT

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

154

according to the nature of these aerial creatures.

wing of rounded
cavity on

form, especially

inner surface,

its

is

con-

v/ith

allied

if

not conducive to high or

The

rapid flight, as in the case of the barn-door fowl.

wings of the sparrow

Figs.

(see

and

6)

more

are

pointed and less concave, and therefore are better suited


to

and

sustained

Wings of birds
much pointed,

that

through the

progression

rapid

have great rapidity of

flight are

air.

very

the goat-sucker, falcon, sea-swallow,

as

pigeon, and curlew.

On
will

Plate

XXXVII.,
some

be found

Figs.

and

animal

be

in

the

deity,

etc.

Egyptian

It

"

will

9,

and

10,

examples of the orna-

historic

mental treatment of wings,


forms,

8,

7,

4,

winged

their

seen

globe,"

application
in

the

Fig.

to
that

emblem

of

the feathers of the wings are rendered in strict

accordance

with

the

severity

Notwithstanding

style of art.

characterises

that
this

diagrammatic

ment, the

idea of wings as regards

of feathers

is

the

that
treat-

arrangement

well preserved, while the all-encompassing

nature of this symbolic attribute of the Deity

is

beautifully

much finer in
conception than the similar Assyrian emblem shown at
Fig. 3. Fig. 2, given as an example of the way in which

and

effectively expressed.

It is

symbols are oftentimes rendered


of ornament,

is

altogether

in

purely aesthetic styles

taken from Italian art of the sixteenth

Plate XXXVII.

JE&1


THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

156

Here

century.

symbol

the general

regarded, the globe

is

and the wings are

shell,

form

whole composition

is

transformed into a

naturalistically

The

treated.

mere piece of eye

is

only of the Egyptian

pleasing

ornament, having no symbolic meaning whatever.


5

shows the application of wings

one of the

which

attributes

to the

Fig.

Greek sphinx

distinguish

it

from

Egyptian creature bearing the same name.

the

Fig.

13

shows an ingenious conventional treatment of the wings


of a bird taken from a fifteenth century
11,

12,

and 14

treatments.

19

Fig.

1 1

are

illustrations

from stained

is

textile.

Figs.

of various

wing

glass.

Fig. 12

was

taken from a carved wooden panel of the sixteenth


century, and Fig. 14 from the base of a bronze candela-

brum.

Fig.

15

is

an

illustration

painting by Holbein, Fig.

by Perugino

book

borrowed

from

16 from a ceiling decoration

while Figs. 17 and 18 are from

illustrations,

and Fig. 19

is

modern

a sketch from a painting

by one of the old masters.


Besides the structure of wings, the decorative character
of the plumage of birds should engage the attention of
students of design, not only for the beautiful colouring

and

detail,

but for the hints to be obtained for setting

out ornament.

and

The

forms and arrangements of spots

stripes are almost infinite in their variety.

XXXVIII.

are given

some examples

On

Plate

of feathers with

Plate XXXVIII.

Fi<3.

a
lrt& 13

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

158

ornaments suggested by their markings.

Figs,

and

are peacocks' feathers in different stages of development,

and Figs.

At

Figs.

and 16 are ornaments based upon them.

11,

8,

5,

4,

3,

and 6 are shown some pheasants'

and

feathers exhibiting various arrangements of spots


Figs.

stripes.

9,

10,

12,

and 13 are simple patterns

designed upon the general forms and upon the principles


of distribution seen in the natural markings.
follows the lines of Fig.

Fig. 12 those of Fig.

4,

3,

Fig.

10 those of Fig.

6,

and Fig. 13 those of Fig.

Insects have decorative value

may

Fig.

5.

and, although

they

not so easily as birds lend themselves to compo-

sition

design

of

line,

when

yet

may be

contrast

is

effectively

used as spots

desired.

Their shapes are

in a

suggestive, while the markings on the wings of some,

such as butterflies and moths, afford excellent examples


of surface treatment.

shown the
wing,

Plate

application of the

given at

pattern.^

On

The

Fig.
insect,

24,

to

Fig.

XXXVIII.,

marking of a

Fig.

is

is

butterfly's

an ornamental
17,

7,

translated

repeated
into

an

* Decoration which mainly consists of the adaptation of natural

markings such as are seen on the skins of animals,

butterflies' wings,

feathers of birds,

and

as naturalistic.

This term applies to another kind of naturalistic de-

in the graining of

woods,

etc., is

sometimes classed

coration which concerns itself with the idealising of natural forms, as

explained in " Lessons on Decorative Design," page 100.

Plate XXXIX.
OOiXSAU
CTUJDfl

160

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

ornament

at Fig. 18;

and

Fishes and reptiles, again,

based upon a similar form.


are

renders

flexibility

purpose
general

decorative

source of

fruitful

them

easy

In

using

required.

given a diaper

in Fig. 19 is

adaptation

of

Their

material.

any

to

however,

them,

their

arrangement or structure should be borne

in

mind, and also the principle upon which nature produces

On

her varieties.

XXXIX.

Plate

a few typical fish

forms are given with their ornamental renderings.


a sketch of an idealised
of

means of progression

fish

showing the arrangement

namely,

the fins

of these vary in different kinds of


division

dorsal

of the

fin

into

shows the

fish.

two

the forms

At

parts.

have a large development of the pectoral


have the appearance of wings.
has a divided dorsal

developed

in

The

part
in

portion

length and depth.

is

extended

which there

of the

developed

is

dorsal

At e

fin

is

some

shown

at

r>

given the

is

divided

the

fins,

especially

curious fish in

extended along the whole upper


;

the

graceful

examples of natural

which

F shows another variety,

At h we have a

one.

we

while the back

a suppression of the

border of the creature

developing

fin

in height,

in length.

is

which the dorsal

fish

fins,

the forepart being enormously

fin,

representation of a fish with the back


front

is

beginning,

appendages.

fish will suffice to

at

the head

These

few

show the variety

ANIMAL ELEMENTS.

161

of lines upon which ornamental fish forms can be con-

below

while

structed,

method adopted

are

given

practice.

in

two renderings of the natural


Snakes and

on.

of

illustrations

the

Thus ic and nc are


type marked c and so
;

lizards are also

useful for decorative

purposes, in introducing an element of playfulness, and


in relieving the seriousness of

by

their graceful forms

that

Plate

XXXVIII.

history.

lizard taken

from a Japanese book

all

periods.

modern and an antique use

first

is

turning back to

Serpents have always been favourite

forms with designers of

the

On

the reader will find, in Figs. 20 and 21,

examples of snake and

show

and the variety of ornamental

they naturally take.

lines

on natural

constructive composition

Figs.

22 and 23

of these creatures

taken from the border of a small

tray, the

second shows their adaptation to the handle of a vase.


Shells again, the product of the lower forms of animal
life,

have great ornamental value, which

is

attested

by

their frequent use in historic art,

where they are

more

according to the style

in

or

less,

to

modifications

which they are found.

the treatment of the shell to


it

is

little

ment,

Natural shells

taken.

adaptation
yet

in

amplification

when used

others

In

fact, it

name the
in many
in

is

subject,

possible from

style

from which

cases require but

simple schemes of orna-

they readily lend themselves to

and enrichment.

CHAPTER

IX.

THE HUMAN FIGURE.

OUR

and

third

use of the

human

figure

elements

and
In

spite

the

fact

to

the

in

this

brings us to the

ornamentist

that the interest given

the

all

has

difficult

to

deal,

to

treat.

we recognise
human figure

however,

difficulty,

The

ornament.

and noblest of

same time the most

the

of

figure

highest

which

with

at

is

human

the

is

sub-division

last

by the

any decorative scheme, surpasses that imparted by

any other elements, be


parallel with

fining

the

influence

associated with

of such

they what

which

interest

which
it.

nature,

that

exerts

it

The

it

excites,

over

study of the
it

is

may

they

is

the

and,

the

re-

elements

human form

is

pursue

it

impossible

to

without benefiting the use of the lower elements of

THE HUMAN FIGURE.


ornament and raising
of

Gothic

their general character.

examine a piece of good

this,

foliage,

and compare

creations

latter is

of the styles

study of the figure

be wondered

is

at, for

first

Italian

In proof

or English

with the best obtainable

it

foliage to be found in Asiatic art

once how tame the

163

and

it

will

be seen at

by the side of the

living

mentioned, in which the

Nor

so greatly fostered.

is

this to

the subtlety of line, composition of

mass, proportion and balance of parts are so perfectly


illustrated in the

human

had concentrated
creation,

all

form, that

it

seems as

if

nature

her wealth in this one supreme

which presents an epitome of the qualities

essential to

ornamental

art.

In adapting figures to design,

it

is

of the utmost

importance that they should harmonise with the flow of


the ornament with which they are allied, and with the

shape ojfthe space to be

filled

imitative rendering of the figure

purpose.

is

by them.

The mere

not sufficient for the

Figures so drawn would have the appearance

of being " stuck " in the composition, instead of forming

an integral part of the whole.

To

deal

successfully,

therefore, with the figure as an ornamental element, the

student must not depend on merely copying his model,

but must idealise by every possible means,

and by searching
be found

in the

after the

human

by

analysis,

ornamental lines which are to

structure.

The

study of anatomy

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

164

will to

some extent be a

upon altogether;

as

help, but should not

the surface forms and lines

is

it

be relied

which concern the ornamentist, and they do not always


agree directly with the under structures.
is

Perhaps there

nothing more noticeable in a young student's

attempts in drawing the

human

figure,

first

than his failure to

grasp the continuity and beauty of line on which

human form depends,

unity of the composition of the

and the general

He

does not

lines

see, until

upon which
it is

the.

its

details

are built.

pointed out, that, in the case

of a figure standing with the weight upon one leg, as in


Plate XL., Figs,

i.,

n.,

and

v.,

there

a general and

is

controlling line running from the pit of the neck to the

inner ankle, which brings into unity

all

the varieties of

trunk and lower limbs.

Or, again, in draw-

ing the upper and lower limbs,' a

beginner invariably

form

in the

seizes

upon the

appreciate

govern

details

values

their

their disposition.

he would observe that


of convex lines

its

of their shapes, and

and the

lines

to

which

In the side view of the leg,


outline

and, dwelling

and not comprehending

general

fails

is

made up

upon these

of a series

details of

their relative values

and

form
their

subordination to the shape of the whole limb, would give


a result like that

shown

at Fig. vl, Plate

XL.

a closer observation would lead him to see

that,

Now,
not-

withstanding the convex curves of the shin, the general

Plate XL.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

166

line of the

front

the back

convex

adding

is

detail,

of the leg

as

if

ix.,

general

shown

here

given

and

the

to

concave, while that of

regard to which

fact,

while

The

would give the form as Fig. vn.

same with the forearm

but

is

were

taken

a result

like

lines

drawn thus

often

is

it

Another example

is

into

this

given

when studying

not only be a guide to

its

account,

would be

in Figs.

which the foregoing remarks apply.

analysis of this kind

vm.

Careful

the figure, would

truthful representation, but

would disclose many an instance of subtle composition,


confirming and emphasizing the value of the funda-

mental principles of ornament


without monotony,

variety

continuity and repetition

without pettiness, contrast

THE HUMAN FIGURE.


without

disunion,

On

formality.

examples

of

same Plate

the

ornamental

the

symmetry

and

radiation

167

be found several

will

lines

be

to

figures in different positions.

Fig. x.

of the muscles of the back.

Fig.

traced

shows the

in

lines

in

lines

xn. illustrates the


Fig. xvn.

composition of the foot with the ground.

shows the radiation of the

without

of the fingers, seen

a partially closed hand.

Let

now

us

consider the direct application of the

figure to decorative purposes (1) for the filling of spaces,

Of

such as panels, spandrels, and tympanums.

down

the same rules hold good as those laid


tion with foliage, but

we

v0tey

human

not do with the

with plants

we have

without adding to
therefore,

it

all

for decora-

because

difficult,

what we may do

figure

to take figures in their entirety,

structures.

their

behoves the student

of his elements,
capable,

becomes more

it

course

the

To

fill

space,

to study well the lines

movements of which

and any accessories that

will

figures are

aid the

work of

composition, such as draperies, architectural details, and


foliage,

so

that

adaptation

spaces

to

without undue strain or seeming

effort.

may be

On

effected

Plate XLI.,

which consists of the adaptation of figures to variously

shaped spaces, Figs.

and

adapted to a square and


in

circle.

show kneeling
It

will

figures

be seen that

both cases the object has been to evenly distribute

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

i68

the action of the figures so as to fairly

the shapes.

fill

Recognising the rectilinear character of the square, the


figure
out,

is

so arranged that

and auxiliary

The

space.

more severely
but

the

effort

obvious, as
Fig.

curved

dominating influence

have

of

contrast,

harmony.

The

an almost

in

been

too

9.

In

perimeter

is

the

so

been

Fig.

velopment of angularities

way

thus

space,

its

the case in

is

the

would

measure the shape of

of course, might have

figure,

fitted to

in

introduced that the

so

details are

whole mass may repeat


the

angularities are brought

its

that
is

rounded

de-

the

not necessary, except by

being

forms

required

for

curve of the back of the figure flows

parallel direction with the right-hand side

of the space, while the vase and spray of leaves balance


it

on the other

side.

In the annexed illustration

given

is

an example of the adaptation of the figure to a space

bounded by a curve and


Fig.

2,

Plate

straight line

XLL, shows

de-

the

coration of an elliptical-shaped panel

by a youthful
" spot

"

figure

arranged as a

within an imaginary line harmonising with the

boundaries of the shape.

by
and

the

late

Alfred

Fig.

Stevens,

harmonious adjustment

to

and
a

is

from a design

shows
given

an

space

easy
;

the

Plate XLI.
V16

"FIG

2.

FIG.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

170

leading
Fig. 5

of which

lines

Godfrey Sykes, and

after

is

example of the

excellent

angular space
principal

here shown

are

the

(see

At

mass).

parallelism

and

of the

given examples of figure treatment


sketches showing

analytic
is

In Fig. Za the

based.

below, parallel for

wards diverging

some

until

an

is

of a rect-

filling

Figs.

the

lines

first

line

are
spandrels,

in

with

upon which each

drawn

starts

from

distance with the arch, after-

it

assumes a horizontal direc-

tion towards the vertical side of the

Lines

spandrel.

corresponding to the wings are then put in to further


repeat the horizontal boundary, while the lines of architecture

are

added

In

complete the composition.

to

Fig. lib the starting line radiates from the arch in an

upward

direction

and

are horizontal lines.


parallel

to

at the termination

vertical

the upright side of the spandrel, upon which

the details of the wreath,

shows the
rectangular

seen

space.

Fig.

" Pan-pipes,"

in quasi-pictorial
;

etc.,

are arranged.

10

Fig.

of a narrow longitudinal

figure decoration

illustrations to

how,

line is

on either side

then introduced

12

is

selected

from

by Walter Crane,

to

the

show

work, the composition of line

note the uplifted arm and the line of the

In the history of ornamental art


figures terminating in foliage.

is

left leg.

we constantly meet with


Some people there are

HUMAN

7W.E

who

such

deride

FIGURE.

examples on the score of their im-

and, therefore, not

possibility,

lightened

designers

do not hesitate

171

be used by the en-

to

of to-day

but

same time

at the

human animal

to convert the

into a six

limbed creature by adding wings to the shoulders

impossible or monstrous than that

combination no

less

they condemn.

With such

do, for

to

little

criticism,

however, we have

our business as students

rather to

is

ascertain the reasons for the creation of such creatures,

and

employment

their

in

There

art.

harmonic, and other reasons for their

The

but there remains an important

matter of high importance


decoration.

If

it

artistic existence.

been already pointed out

consideration has

first

symbolic,

are

one,

that

of scale, a

a complicated scheme of

in

were required to introduce the figure

element into a space forming part of a design,

it

might

very possibly be found that the use of an entire figure

would give

XL

Plate

masses too small

in

size,

as

in

But, by using a demi- figure, as in Fig.

I.

the defect in respect of scale would be remedied.


it

will

Fig.

be seen that by

this

means

6,
7,

Here

larger masses are

introduced, and the quantities throughout the design are

thus varied, while the dominant feature of the design


the figure

To

is

accented.

prevent a crudeness of effect in the bare use

of a portion only of a figure, ornament

was developed

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

172

from the sectional

line,

such ornament having harmonious

This treatment may

relations with surrounding details.

have gradually obtained form

Having

way.

this

in

found that a half-figure suited the scale of the work


in

hand,

terminate
a

with

it

method

busts

any desire

as

survives
and,

more

be

drapery,

which

sculptured
folds,

would

nothing

in

due elaboration

after

by shaping the outline as

at

b.

little

of

of
the

was no doubt

by ornamenting the edges of

satisfied

to
(a),

termination

further enrichment

for

XLII.

Plate

the

in

than

natural

material

the

exercise of the

imagination would convert these cuttings of the edges


into foliated forms, as at

For the purpose of further

c.

harmonising the foliage with the

accompanying

details

it,

figure, as well as the

the addition was

made

to

grow

out of the figure, taking certain anatomical lines for the


start,

as at

d.

On

the

same Plate are given compo-

of figures with and without ornament

sitions

amalgamated with
Fig.

supports.

amorini,

i.

foliage,
is

panel,

and

is

lines.

it,

Fig.

is

1.(0),

foliage to

accompanied by Sketch
Fig. v.

of

the elemental

Fig. in. shows a composition

of figures with conventional

leading

frolic

of the early part of the

artist

present century, and below


lines of the composition.

figures

and figures used as structural

a design representing a

by a French

after a

fill

in. (a),

an upright

showing

its

drawing by Le Pautre,

Plate XLII.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

174

the composition

illustrating

work, and below

arrangement.
of figures

it is

Fig.

of figures with rich

given a diagram of the lines of

iv. is

and ornament

at

Figs

the lines of the latter were

and

n.

its

an example of the amalgamation

suggested by the action of the figures shown


sketches

scroll

Fig.

in.

vin.

in the small

is

a drawing

of a figure used as an architectural support in place of

This application of the human form by the

a column.

Greeks probably arose out of

their misconception of the

Egyptian use of figures with


Fig.

ix.,

in

which

be seen that the figure does

will

it

as at

their architecture,

not support the structure immediately above, although

may appear from

the front view to do so.

rests against the wall


at

and,

rather than that of a column.

figure

has any structural value

if it

which may be doubted,

all,

The

it

it

The

is

that of a buttress

Greeks, acknowledg-

ing the want of fitness in employing animate forms for


the support of massive superstructures, were careful to

give to these caryatides, as they are called, a strong


architectonic character, which to
their

in their

disguised,

which
in

But, notwithstanding the

inappropriateness.

shown

is

and

some extent concealed

treatment of the subject, the error

forms a bad precedent, a

skill
is

but

precedent

answerable for much of the bad art exhibited

subsequent periods

structural purposes.

The

in

the

adaptation of figures to

artists of

the Renaissance period,

THE HUMAN FIGURE.

175

seeing only the idea of using figures in place of columns,

and without

Greeks

the

artifice

cover any weakness

to

more or

regarding

less

gracefulness

natural

of

In

treatment.

stability

adopted

effect,

the pursuit

they lost sight of

line

nature of a support

of

by the

practised

the

and strength

a
of

essential

and they

perpetrated caryatides and telamones that conveyed to


the

beholder an

idea

of

See Fig.

insecurity.

vn.,

an illustration taken from a work on architecture by

De L'Orme,

Philibert

also Fig.

vi.,

still

later

example

from a German source, further showing the neglect of


the principle of stability,

ment of strong muscular


of

all

three

much

Take

figures.

of these structures, thus

and, on comparison,
a

notwithstanding the employ-

it

will

-,-.

be seen what )*\

Greeks

conception the

better

the medial lines

had of adapting an unsuitable subject


to

the

purposes

They based
strongest

their

line,

of columnar support. J4

adaptation upon
vertical

one

the

their

successors

on

curves, graceful but weak, having no supporting qualities

whatever.

There

is

another class of architectural supports into

which the figure element enters, used

in a similar

manner

to pilasters, called termini, consisting of half-figures, or


busts,

and united by draperies or other ornaments

to

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

176

pillars

Fig.

In the example given in

which taper downwards.

be seen that the

xi., it will

of support

office

slight;

is

the general purpose appearing to be that of the decorative


filling

up of the gap found

On

Plate

XXXVII. some

shown of the treatment and

human

which

wall, to

applied, rather than that of bearing any-

is

actual weight.

between the upper

and the face of the

architectural projection

the terminal

to exist

illustrations are

application of wings to the

In Egyptian art the wing feathers are

form.

usually attached

to

under-sides of the arms, thus

the

avoiding the anomaly which would result by adding the

whole of the wing structure, and giving them


points
their

of attachment

winged

The

Fig. 4).

(see

figures altered this

distinct

Assyrians

in

arrangement by making

the wings to issue out of the shoulders, giving to the being


instead

limbs

six

of

four

method of applying wings


the

biologist

survives,

dealing

of
6

and

and

10,

the

at the

with

these

taken

decorative

from

vase

is

is

is

to

the one that

appendages.

paintings,

of the limbs are well

outline

it

subject

way
Figs.

show some

In their upper margins the

In the Renaissance examples,


this

human

this

present time, the accepted

Greek treatments of wings.


structures

to the

Although

7).

satisfactory,

least

is,

(Fig.

and

shown

at

much exaggerated, and

not agree with the hidden structure.

finely indicated.

Figs. 8

and

the curves
Fig. 8

is

9,

do

from a

THE HUMAN FIGURE.

177

carved wooden chest, and, although the sinuous curved


outline of the top of the wings

open

is

way in which the wings are


They are developments of
able.

applied

the

added
Fig.

limbs as

case

the

in

of

to objection,

the
the

arms, and

not

example below,

9.

In the course and current of decorative


fabulous

creatures,

human

partly

and

have based

later periods

animal,

partly

their grotesques.

many

art,

have been created, giving forms upon which

art,

reason-

is

artists

To

of

Grecian

the central idea of which was the glorification of the

human

form,

we

are indebted for most of the mythical

creatures that have been

handed down

Rocks,

to us.

trees, woods, mountains, rivers, and seas, Literature and

the Arts, had each, in the

Greek system, a human

sentative, depicted in an ideal form

calamities

human

repre-

and even natural

and the vices of mankind had symbols

guise.

When

the

latter,

however, did

sufficient degree, express the idea intended,

were added

for the

in

not, in a

animal forms

purpose of rendering the symbol as

complete as possible.

Thus,

free,

untrammelled woodland

of a

man

in their personification of
life,

they gave to the figure

the legs and horns of a goat to intensify the

idea of wild freedom, and hence resulted the mythical

forms of Pan and Satyr


this Plate will

(see

Plate XLIII., Fig.

7).

On

be found other fabulous creatures, which


N

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

178

may be

briefly described.

Fig.

having a human head and


is

one, as

it

Fig.

an Egyptian Sphinx

The combination
wisdom and power. The

lion's

a symbol of intellectual

Greek Sphinx,

is

body.

in

2, differs

form from the Egyptian

always represented as being of the female

is

sex and having wings.

It

appears to have been adopted

She

as the personification of malignity and mystery.


credited

those

who

with the practice of propounding riddles to

who

visited her,

failed to solve

gracefulness

employed

of the

in

and of tearing

for the

used

creature's

form caused

an aesthetic way, and

art,

adornment of bronze

in a similar

way and

it

those

purposes

At

3).

man and

be

to

decoration,

tripods, etc.

for similar

half

it

was a favourite

in. mural

subject to modifications (see Fig.

shown a combination of

in pieces

Apart from symbolism, the

them.

ornamental element, frequently used

and

is

It

in

was

Roman

Fig. 4

is

half horse, called

a Centaur, a creature which appears to have been the


symbolic representation of a race of warriors
celebrated for their great
said that their skill

skill

horsemanship.

in

was so great that

appeared as one, hence the symbol.


combination of half
denizen of the

woman and

forest.

Fig.

6,

who were

half deer,

a Siren,

is

is

and horse

rider

Fig. 5

It

is

a similar

a mythical

a beautiful

female with bird-like lower limbs, terminated by powerful talons.

Wings

are attached to the shoulders.

Some

Plate XLIII.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

180

writers regard this creature as symbolising the unseen

dangers belonging to rock-bound coasts.


said to

have possessed wonderful

sweet songs to have lured


struction.

By

others

delusive nature of

human

and with

voices,

are
their

on to their de-

mariners

thought that they typify the

is

it

Sirens

Figures of sirens

pleasures.

holding lyres were often chosen for the decoration of


Attic graves, and would
Fig. 9

wailers.

thus appear

as

mourners or

shows the form of a Harpy, composed

of the head of a fair-haired maiden and the

Harpies were credited with wonderful rapidity

vulture.

of

body of a

flight,

greater than that of any

known

bird,

and were

considered to be the personification of sudden events.


If

mortal

suddenly disappeared,

supposed to have carried him


arose they were regarded as

were

harpies

If a

sudden tempest

authors.

Fig. 8 repre-

off.

its

the

sents Triton, the attendant and trumpeter of Poseidon

(Neptune), usually depicted as being half

having a

shell

man and

fish,

which he used as a trumpet, and carrying

a rudder in one hand.


Fig. 10, the head of

Fig. 13

Medusa,

Medusa was

extreme

fear.

Gorgon

Sisters,

is

shows an

an emblem of terror and

the most celebrated of the

originally a priestess of

having broken her

vow

infant triton.

Athene

but,

of celibacy by listening to the

wooing of Poseidon, and ultimately marrying him, was


fearfully

punished by the goddess

each of her beautiful

THE HUMAN FIGURE.


wavy

locks of hair

her person

became a venomous

assumed a horrible

siren,

called

headed serpent, used


intelligence.

a Mermaid.
to

Fig.

and

serpent,

Fig.

aspect.

another fabulous creature of the sea

form of

181

is

more peaceful
12

is

man-

symbolise subtlety guided by

CHAPTER

X.

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS CUPS,

WHATEVER

may be thought

of

VASES, ETC.

evolution

in

regard to biology, there can be no doubt as to


its

being an important factor

in the

development of

whether we regard the progress of a picture from

art,

its first

rudimentary conception, or the gradual completion of


useful objects based

upon some primeval model rudely

designed to immediately serve some special purpose.

The

history of industrial art exhibits the evolution of

forms, by the endeavour to fully


necessities of

mankind, and

to

fit

them

meet the growing wants

pertaining to the progress of civilisation.


it

in

could be

shown how

all

furniture, jewellery,

to the varied

Did space

allow,

the familiar and elaborate forms

etc.,

elementary beginnings, and

were evolved out of very

how the changes were wrought

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.

183

convenience and in accordance with the

for reasons of

While

altering conditions of society.

not possible to

it is

undertake so comprehensive a task, the purposes of such

an inquiry

be served by directing attention to the

will

named

of objects

class

at the

head of

this

chapter

namely, to the consideration of cups, vases, and other


hollow vessels, showing their origin and development,

and

and decorative value as

their artistic composition

be found

in the

The origin of these vessels is to


wants of man in his early condition, who

required

some

vessels of capacity, in which to collect

ornamental elements.

water for drinking and other purposes.

Doubtless, the

cups or bowls were natural ones, such as the hard .rinds


of nuts, gourds, shells, and horns of animals (see natural
types, Plate

XLIV.).

found to answer

and

satisfied

were more

fully

awakened.
in

vessels

rough way the several

in a

man's varied requirements,

period

cultured

These ready-to-hand

history

were

necessities,

until his faculties

When, however, a more


was reached, we find that

objects for similar purposes were fashioned out of plastic


materials,

The

made.
fluenced,

early

and vessels more suited


natural

more or

forms

less,

the

while

some

types,

other

shapes

specially

designed

to

were

w hich had been used

pottery,

natural

to special needs

artificial

forms

were

productions.

were

copied

purely

in-

In

from

inventive,

meet the increasing wants

of

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

184

an advancing
its

civilisation.

purpose,

useful

its

departure from the


felt

that certain

original

but

when

model, but

fulfilled
little

it

was

requirements were but imperfectly met,

form

natural

a natural cup

reproduction showed

modifications took place.

no

When

When new

answered

to

his

wants arose, and


necessities,

man's

inventive powers were stimulated into action, and this


activity resulted in the creation of

to the particular

new

vessels, suitable

needs of his improving condition.

But

while these inventive shapes answered his purpose in

some degree, they were


first

necessarily incomplete, as

conceptions are, and, consequently,

subject

find they

and modified by, developments

to,

The

first

were

in the direc-

Let us take an example by way of

tion of fitness.
tration.

we

most

illus-

notion of forming a vessel for catching

water from a spring would be a wide-mouthed bowl,


with the addition of handles for carrying

Now, although
the water,

it

well designed for receiving

was not so well adapted

after process

of conveyance

for the

from the spring, because

the motion imparted to the large surface of water at


the orifice of the vessel, by the act of carrying, would

cause

to

it

be easily

spilled.

For carrying purposes a

narrow-mouthed vessel was the


ditions,

better.

The two

con-

however, of receiving and carrying had to be

provided

for,

and so we

find the

form has been modified

::

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


by a consideration of the double
Here, while the wide mouth
underpart
a

is

smaller

narrowed

in

is

use, thus

retained, the

order to present

surface

oscillating

185

reducing

consequently

For

the chances of accidentally spilling the contents.

reasons

similar

we

find

at

country places, where water


distance
float

is

wood

the
is

present day

that

often carried for

in

some

open buckets suspended from a yoke, a

in

commonly

used,

composed of two pieces of

nailed together crosswise, thus dividing the sur-

the

face

of

Now

turn for a

liquid

into

moment

narrow sections

to the consideration

of one of the simplest of the primitive forms


of drinking cup, the one, perhaps, suggested

by a section of an animal's horn, as Fig.


a form similar to the
as

we

shall

modern

Plate

glass tumbler.

the parent of the

see, is

1,

XLIV.,

This form,

modern

vase,

and

through the successive stages of

has been developed

the beaker and hanap to the fully constituted vase with


its

multiplicity of parts.

Throughout the ages mankind has never been wholly


contented with merely satisfying his utilitarian requirements.
its

However

special

remain

in

well a useful object

purpose,
its

it

may have

served

has never been allowed long to

bare and simple condition.

always been a tendency to elaboration,

riot

There has
only by the

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

86

addition of decoration, but

by the enrichment or

finement of the contour of the object


of elaboration

This form

itself.

the result of a finer perception

often

is

re-

of the law of fitness, as well as of the desire for beauty

The

and variety of form.


been

from

the

progress of art has always


simple

severely

and

ornate

the

to

complex.

The
shows
minds

use of this horn shape

it

to

be a

fairly serviceable

has appeared that

it

by provision being made

it

materials

various

in

one

but to some

would be further improved

to prevent its slipping

from the

The

hand, and also from being so easily overturned.

tendency to
in

two ways

Fig. 3)

slip

by

first,

secondly,

mouldings (Fig.

holding has been counteracted

while

alteration

the

modern

outline

(see

by the addition of a moulding or


Stability has

4).

tending the area of support, as


(In

of the

glass

tumbler

in

been given by exFigs.

stability

2,
is

3,

and

secured by

Other

the additional weight of material at the base.)

changes came about from

aesthetic

4.

reasons,

and were

added without interfering with the usefulness of the


object

for

instance,

greater variety was

after

the

addition

of

the

foot,

given to the form by turning

in

the lower part of the body and introducing a short stem


(see

Fig.

5).

The change

in

the outline necessitated

the addition of a moulding which also

marked a

further

Plate XLTV.

3 Bo&y
CAUX
TOOT

rifcii

T=K>lS

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

88

way all the


which may be enu-

division of parts, giving us in a rudimentary

members of
merated
Fig.

a developed

thus

body,

lip,

Amongst

5).

have four varieties

beaker,

the

calix,

forms

early

and

stem,

resulted
to

we

beakers

of

and

2, 3, 4,

8).

of development which led to the varieties


;

(see

the straight, the convex, the con-

cave, and ogee (see Figs.

not stop here

foot

The process
now given did

further changes are to be noticed which

from the application of a different principle,

which allusion

has

not

been

yet

made

namely,

the principle of partial development, as (1) the develop-

ment of the
lip

(Figs. 7

calix (Figs. 7

and

and 18); and so

10);

(2) the frieze

and

For the purpose of

on.

keeping out the dust, covers were subsequently added


(see Figs. 11

On

Plate

beakers,
Figs.

and

14).

XL IV.

including

the

are

shown

examples

already

in early times.

The

referred

Fig.

1 1

Renaissance example, Fig. 13


an

old

is

Fig.

16

is

15

from

German

glass

is

Fig.

taken

from a drawing

by Holbein, a very graceful composition.


-sketch

German

modern English,

Venetian shape, and Fig.

from Flemish stone-ware.

a Flemish

is

form of the seventeenth century, Fig. 12

to.

rest of the illustrations

are taken from various sources.

is

of

1-10 are designed to show the different forms

developed

14

forms

various

hanap

Fig.
in

17

is

South

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


Kensington Museum.

18

Fig.

is

189

Japanese, and Fig.

19 from Venetian glass.

The word hanap now


these covered beakers

yet

show of

term hanap

signifies

but, while there

reason for so naming them


a covered vessel

appears in connection with

it

as the

is

is

usually applied to the next

stage of development under consideration.

Covered

so large that they


great inconvenience and

beakers came to be made of large size


could not be handled without
this led to

an alteration

convenient for

lifting,

in construction.

two courses were open, either

elongate the stem so that


a side handle.

To make them

it

to

might be grasped, or to add

The first, which immediately concerns

us,

produced the hanap, the second developed the tankard.

With the elongation of the stem came the introduction


of another member, the knop (see Plate XLV., Fig. 8),
for the

purpose of presenting a firmer grip, and to prevent

the vessel from slipping in the hand.

being extended,

we

The stem now

find that the knob, or finial, of the

cover acquired increased importance, and this for


reasons.

But whether the height of the

some covered beakers

called for a

finial

artistic

found

in

more lengthened stem,

and directed the choice between the two methods of


or whether the develop-

construction before alluded

to,

ment of the knop came

with the elongation of the

stem,

is

of

little

in

consequence, seeing that the aesthetic

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

TQo

result

developed are

have now
in

the

The

the same.

is

various parts of a hanap as

illustrated at

to see

process

Fig. 8, Plate

now

We

XLV.

what further developments took place

As

of elaboration.

luxury advanced,

these drinking vessels became enriched in every possible

way, and were ultimately regarded as articles for show


rather than as articles for use

rooms of

The

state

to

adornments

as rich

be displayed on special occasions.

possession of such articles often indicated wealth

and even the

hanaps

enrichment of these

appears

outline

first,

sub- division.

To

already been

made

importance

will

in

and

of which

thirdly,

more

fully

light

on

this

but,

has

developed vessels.

in the outline

ductility of metal allows of its

be handled

by

but their

arose out of the

nature of material and the method of working.

lightness,

to the

be better appreciated when con-

important alteration

of great

been

allusion

reference to beakers

sidered in relation to the

One

some

methods

these

all

by adding variety

secondly, by developing parts

The

have

to

mainly effected by three modes of procedure,


bear upon the contour

upon which they

particular form of dtage

were placed indicated the rank of the owner.

full

for

The

being wrought into cups

a quality requisite for a vessel

though a cup of

account,

also be strong to resist

it

is

this

necessary

any damage

to

to

kind should be
that
its

it

should

surface

by

Plate XLV.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

192

So we

indentation.

that

find

one method employed

consisted of bulging or beating out the light material


forms, and thus securing the two

into certain regular

important desiderata

lightness and strength

This characteristic mode of working, while


answering

its

useful purpose,

was soon adopted

and was often used on certain

as a decorative feature,

parts of these objects for the sake of artistic

alone

XLV.,

(Plate

Figs,

i,

4,

5,

and

6).

balance

Another
was

source of enrichment, arising out of construction,

found

the

in

supports

strength and
the

first

was

and

of

small

cast

stem,

the

metal
give

to

These were

the whole.

in

place adopted to counteract any pressure that

where undue

3, 6,

to

stiffness

might be brought

occur,

points

different

at

of adding

necessity

to bear

upon the

vessel.

strain and, therefore, injury

at the junction of the calix

These

7).

to the work,

was

The

part

likely to

and stem

(Figs.

supports, while they gave firmness

produced a pleasing

effect,

and doubtless

suggested to the mind of the worker extended applications.

Hence

their use

soon became a matter of orna-

ment, and details of this kind were applied where they

were not actually


the aesthetic

requisite, but

effect.

Like

all

merely as contributing to
other ornaments arising

out of necessity, these have been abused, and, where


little

or no restraint has been exercised in their use, they

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


have degenerated
as in Fig.

the

11.

variations

have

arisen,

unmeaning

has been pointed out

It

in

fussy and

into

general

the

adjuncts,

how some

in

of

forms of beakers may-

These

and examples have been given.

changes were retained

193

the subsequently developed

hanaps, as will be seen in the collection of examples

on Plate
Figs.

XLV.
1

and

2 are

hanaps of the Gothic period, show-

ing rich decorative use of bulbous forms.

Fig. 3

a seventeenth century example of English

work

same

Fig. 4 belongs to the

illustration of the fanciful

to the metal, as

many masters

hanaps taken from etchings by Virgil

was drawn from a

small

vase of

Solis.

the

is

South Kensington Museum.


all

taken from an Italian example.

four diagrams

Fig.

Fig. 8

is

the various parts of a hanap to

from a design by one of the "

The

of the

cinque -cento

which the reader's attention has already been


10

an

Figs. 6 and 9 are sketches of rich

sixteenth century.

Fig.

is

treatment of the bulbous forms,

already explained, and adopted by

diagram showing

from

goldsmiths'
Fig. 5

period.

originally beaten out to give strength

period, in the

is

little

called.

Fig. 11

is

masters of Germany."

on the lower part of the Plate are

given to show the probable lines of construction of some


of these vessels.
to

The

which each belongs.

small arrows indicate the hanap

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

194

change

in the

shape of the

lip,

which led

to the

formation of the fully developed vase, has yet to be

The body

noticed.
in

an open

closed

in,

of the vessel, instead of terminating

as in beakers

lip,

and hanaps, was gradually

and a shoulder formed

The

an urn.

like

object for this does not appear, but probably

it

came

about from following some different natural type, such as

This turning-in of the

a gourd.

some purposes, the

necessitated,

lip

for

member, a

introduction of another

"neck," the upper margin of which, turning outwards,


received the cover

Here, then,

Any

Plate

(see

we have

XLVI.,

of

addition

sub-division

(see

Figs.

character

to

portance

still,

13

by

parts

the

and

work

the

the

by the

exception

presently be considered).

minor

into

2).

by the

effected

any new members (with

mouldings not only has


contour

was

of the various parts, rather than

of handles, which will

and

the parts of a complete vase.

all

further enrichment of contour

sub-division

Figs,

effect

of

addition

of

enriching the

but gives fineness of

14),

more

im-

quality of strength.

By

and,

expresses the

the

The

what

is

of

the introduction of mouldings at the


different

changes

most any

outline,

of

curvature,

however weak, may

be made firm and strong

The

al-

rest of the

(see

Fig.

examples on Plate

).

XLVI.

illustrate

Plate XLVI.

9ueowiofro
2

tTNIVERsiTir)

S&X

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

196

Figs. 3 and 4 are

the various developments of vases.


Italian designs,

the neck and

Figs.

neck and

lip

(the covers are absent).

In Fig.

neck are repressed, while there


of the

Figs.

lip.

7, 8, 9,

the development

In Fig. 5 the

One

lip,

6 the body and

an enormous expansion

and 10 are given

to illustrate

Fig.

forms.

is

Greek, Fig. 9 Japanese, and


11 is an Italian vase of the

fifteenth century, simple,

decoration.

rounded

is

Fig.

Indian.

10

is

of bottle-like

Sardinian shape, Fig. 8


Fig.

is

developed and merged into the

greatly expanded.

is

which

and 6 are Japanese variations of the

vertically

is

which

particularly the latter,

lip,

inwards.

neck

given to show the different treatments of

and well balanced

illustration is

carved vase, wherein the plan

is

in

given at Fig.

form and
12

of a

angular instead of round,

from a design by Gibbs, an architect of the eighteenth


Fig. 15

century.

is

a rich and sumptuous two-handled

vase, in the Italian style of the latter

end of the sixteenth

century.

From
pears

which
bottle
result

to

the vase a class of useful hollow vessels ap-

have

carafes

been

and

shapes belong.

developed,
various

to

other

These forms

from an elongation of the neck

immediately above the shoulder, thus


(see

also

Figs.

and

10),

serving

as

handle

by

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


which

it

might be

Some

lifted up.

met with which seem

are often

examples, however,

to

indicate that

were primarily suggested by natural forms,


bashes or other gourds, and developed

The development
like

like

in like

they
cala-

manner.

of the upper portion of these bottle-

forms was accompanied by the gradual suppression

of the stem
to

197

its

ending in

disappearance owing

total

its

being no longer useful.

Another form of cup, the

chalice,

appears to have

been developed from the primitive bowl.

Greek

art

we have

a short stem, thus


of the

initial

a^

<

In ancient

~3jgj& drinking bowls raised on


These furnish examples

3S

stages in the course of development.

The

next step seems to have been the elongation of the

side handles,

stem and the suppression of the

which became unnecessary

This form of drinking cup

is

the one that was most

generally adopted for religious purposes, and

the subsequent changes in

its

many

of

form were brought about

by considerations of structure, and of the nature of the


The knop
special functions which it had to serve.
was added
its

adoption

to
in

however, was,

beyond
vessels;

stem

the
the
for

of

case

ritualistic

the dimensions
it

for

the reason which led


the

The

base,

reasons, greatly extended

assigned

often exceeded

hanap.

to

the

to

similarly

shaped

diameter of the bowl

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

198

This was done

itself.

order to minimise the danger

in

of upsetting the chalice

wine which
this

it

kind was

serious

and so

was designed
by

held

hold.

to

matter, and, therefore,

it.

Fig.

Plate

i,

accident

to

be

was

Hence

XLVII.

precious

An

ecclesiastics

against in every possible way.


as in

spilling the

to be

of

a very

provided

the form

became

Another change arising

out of special use was the alteration of the plan of the

base from the circular to a more complicated form.

was the ancient practice


to drain

prevent

this,

circular base

out of

roll

its

would render

position,

and

so, to

the base was either indented, scolloped, or

angularised, as in Figs.

the small plans, a,

main

to place the chalice, after use,

into the paten.

the object liable to

It

6, c,

4, 5, 6,

and

d.

and

knop, and wide non-circular base.

cup mounted on a stem

little
;

and as shown

Here, then,

characteristics of the chalice

of chalice differed but

7,

we have

from the old

the

tall

stem,

earliest

form

small bowl,

The

in

classic drinking

but gradually departed from

it.

In the earliest departure, the bowl became a plain half


globe, the

stem

tall

and the base spreading. Subsequently

the bowl became deeper and straight-sided, the stem


higher,

changes

and the base shaped.


in

still

Coincidently with these

general form, enrichment of the profile and

surfaces of these objects

came

in.

The stem was

riched by sub-division as in other vessels.

en-

Certain parts

Plate XLVII.

W&S.i;

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN,

2oo

appear to have received special attention, such as the

knop and the base

the large surface presented by the

extended base offering a

The

artist.

the decorative

for

field

advantage was taken of

the resources of art have been expended

all

8,

fullest

fine

XLVIL).

Plate

artistic

(see

The knop

enrichment, but often

Plate

originated

XLVIL).

it

and here
and

(see 6, 7,

has also been subject to


has been unwisely treated

The

purpose which

useful

enrichment has been

this

it,

sight of

lost

by

the decorator, pointing a moral that decoration should

never interfere with usefulness, and that


only

the

consideration

to

be

regarded

effect is

not

designing

in

ornament.

Further

illustrations

are given on the

belonging to different periods, exhibiting the

chalices

various changes, already alluded


place in their development.

to,

Figs.

diagrams showing the alteration


Figs. 3

same Plate of

and

which have taken


1,

in

2,

3,

and 4 are

stems and bowls.

5 are thirteenth century examples.

That of

a chalice discovered near Dolgelly, North Wales, 1890,


is

from a sketch which appeared

London News
Sir
6, 7,

of that year.

Digby Wyatt's book on


and

8,

also

from Wyatt's

The

in

other

" Metal
"

The Illustrated
is

taken from

Work."

Figs.

Metal Work," are later

examples, as shown by the deepened bowls, and


decoration of these and other parts of the vessels.

the

The


XXWIVJEHSIT

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


remaining

show the

illustrations

elaboration

201

the

of

Figs. 10 and 11

chalice during the Renaissance period.

are sixteenth century examples, and respectively are of

Spanish and Italian workmanship.

Fig.

of the eighteenth century, while Fig. 12

from a drawing

We

will

French

Italian,

taken

pass on to the consideration of another

class of hollow vessels, the

to

is

South Kensington Museum.

in the

now

is

These appear

jug and ewer.

have been evolved by a

from that

different process

which generated the vessels already dealt with


adding a side handle

i.e.,

for lifting, instead of using the

by

stem

Ewers may have been derived from

for that purpose.

vases and beakers in this way, as an examination of

examples suggests

various historic

stem, as

its

office

is

handle at the side

downwards, as

beak

at

superseded by the addition of the

and by cutting the

a and

3,

formed by the process

y^\

\
a
\

to further facilitate the

deliverance of

liquids.

obliquely

lip

the

being afterwards developed and

shaped

by repressing the

%s^

IgjT

^)

^T^v

<r

Some

forms of these are shown on Plate XLVIII., Figs,


d,

and f, with sketches

The

records

in plan at a, b,

of ancient

Greek

e,

c,

g.

art will

supply ex-

amples of objects, so developed, which have furnished


the moderns with models for imitation and elaboration

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.


(see

Plate

XLVIIL,

Figs,

i,

and

2, 4,

An

5).

important

consideration in the application of handles to pouring


vessels

and spouts of

their proper relation to the lips

is

those objects, so that the weight of the vessel and

may

contents

not be against the action of pouring.

often mistakes are

made

in this respect

by

its

Too

either follow-

some antique model which was formed for another


purpose than that of pouring, or by treating the handles
ing

and

as ornamental adjuncts, without regard to their full

Take any ewer with

complete usefulness.

and endeavour

to ascertain

part of the handle

it

reversing, and delivery of

discovered that

it

will

be

handle,

tall

by a few experiments which


to grasp for easy lifting,

best

is

contents

its

at a point

near

and
to,

will

it

and a

above, the centre of gravity of the whole mass.

shows that

it is

right relation to

* This
in

may be

as a section

it

when

in

it

and

in balance

sufficiently

edge,

first.

of a vertical

required.

with the

intersection of the

lip

vessel,

plane passing through

Draw

an upright position.

and from that point

The

This

placed in
;

that the

accomplished in the following way

centre of the card, then suspend


its

may be

cardboard the form of the proposed

it

little

of the highest importance to determine the

central point, # in order that the handle

Cut out

be

let

two

it

and regard

the middle of

a vertical line

through the

from any convenient point in

fall

a vertical line

lines will

crossing the

be the centre of gravity

Plate XLVIII.

T(6

HANDLE
C3MPO&1NO
with Boy &\
1V?<S.

ri&

ii

Lip

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

204

action of lifting and reversing, for discharging the contents,

may be accomplished with

the least possible

This

effort.

adjustment of handles, according to the balancing centre


of vessels of capacity other

than those for pouring,

applies with equal force to such as are used for carrying

by suspension or by support

On

Plate

and jugs,

are given examples of

Figs,

i,

4,

2,

and

applied

and

Fig.

shows a

Benvenuto
lifting

pleasantly
richly

The

Cellini.

and pouring

Fig. 6

is

less usefully

shapes.

their

ewer, attributed to

decorated

not well placed for

is

but, although in this respect

not useful, the handle

composed with the

composed with
handle

Greek forms

are

more or

of simple character, with handles

ewers

and adjustment of

illustrating the treatment

handles.

their

XLVIII.

is

vessel

of graceful form, and


it

adorns

(see

is

the dotted

it

well

lines).

another ewer of the Italian Renaissance, the

handle of which, like that in the former example,


placed

too

however,

is

high for ease

the

defect

is

in

is

In this case,

handling.

somewhat atoned

for

by

the

space between the lower attachment of the handle and


the
at a

" neck,"

thus allowing the handle

more convenient

place.

Fig. 7

on which a small winged figure


balance the fanciful handle.
that the designer

was more

It

is

is

to

be grasped

an Italian shape,

placed in front to

would appear from

careful to bring

all

this

parts of

his

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.

205

design within a symmetrical outline than to

make

a serviceable
Renaissance,

Fig.

object.

an example of French
the stem and foot of

of simple form,

is

which are rectangular


placed for

8,

fulfilling its

in

The handle

plan.

purpose.

Fig. 9

ornamented ewer by an unknown


century, and

is

is

well

an elaborately

of the sixteenth

artist

another example of attaching a handle as

is

an ornament instead of

for

easy use. Figs.

10, 11,

and 12

show the proper adjustment of handles with due regard


to

and

composition,

shapes

the

to

which

they

are

applied.

Besides jugs and ewers,

we have

other varieties of

hollow vessels with side handles, such as tankards and


flagons.

The

tankard used for drinking purposes was,

as before intimated, developed from the covered beaker.

The
to

type upon which

it

was generally formed appears

have been one having a wide-spreading base, as

Plate

XLIX.,

Fig.

1.

Some

historic

in

examples are met

with which follow a type having a necking as in Fig. 4


on the same Plate. In addition to the handle, a distinctive

mark

of

tankards

is

the

attachment of the

cover to the top of the handle by a hinge, and a small


lever or thumb-piece for lifting

it

up.

This arrangement enabled the drinker,


while grasping the handle of the vessel

and conveying

it

to his mouth, to raise the lid

by simply

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

206

The uncovering

pressing the lever with his thumb.

of

the tankard by this

means did away with the necessity of

retaining the

which was essential

finial,

unattached cover of the beaker

for

and so

removing the

this feature

When

either partly repressed or discarded altogether.

how ever,

used,

it is

only for aesthetic reasons, as a matter

of composition, and to correct what to


to

some may appear


Tankards

be a too abrupt termination of the object.

are mostly

cylindrical

which deviate from

form

general

in

shape

this

are

these vessels taper upwards.


to

the

which

flagon,

the

varieties

similar

beakers which they appear to follow.

led

was

to

Later, however,

This alteration

in

form

from the

distinguished

is

those

tankard by increase of size and the narrowness of the

mouth; the

latter

or spout.

On

being sometimes developed into a beak,

Plate

XL IX.

are given various forms of

tankards and a flagon, to further illustrate the foregoing

remarks on these

vessels.

Figs,

i,

2,

4,

and

show

elementary forms of tankards, from the squat cylindrical

shape to the more elegant tapered form, which


resulted in the flagon.

are

decorated

Figs.

3, 6,

7,

8,

9,

10,

finally

and

11

examples, which in most cases appear

to follow the lines of the former,

the repression of the

finial,

to

and which also

illustrate

which allusion has been

made.

Having now

traced the development of a few of the

Plate XLIX.

fig /
Fl6 IS

K*2

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

208

hollow vessels,

important

be well to

will

it

Handles

few remarks upon handles generally.

be broadly

direction

vertical

into:

classified
(see

Figs.

1,

2,

may-

which have a

those

first,

offer

and,

3),

secondly,

those which are horizontally disposed, as

They

attached to vessels

are

purposes.

various

for

The

designed
particular

(ppf

purpose of any individual object determines the form


of handle to be used, whether of the

or second

first

Vertical handles are appropriate for lifting

kind.

and

pouring vessels, horizontal ones for vessels for carrying

and transporting
varieties

namely

point only,

others

(c)

(b)

(a) those

the

class

first

there are

which are attached

at

one

others which touch at two points, while

are attached along the whole of their inner

We

surface.

Of

liquids.

development.

have now

The

to

look

their

at

ornamental

extremities of handles where they

joined the body of the vessel to which they were applied


naturally

widened out

to give a large connective surface,

that the attachment might


fullest security.
first

These parts were the S$

to receive decorative attention,

and hence we
as

have the

shown

in

find

them elaborated

sketches here

(I

given

Again, to the middle. part of the handle, attention was


directed

to

fit

it

more

perfectly

smooth handle of uniform thickness

purpose.

for

its

(see

Fig. 1) would be

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


hand, and so

liable to slip in the

gradually, or

by adding

to convenience {see Fig.

distinct

it

widened

out, either

prominences according

This also offered a

2).

209

field for

decoration of which advantage was taken, and at last the

throughout

ornamentation extended
Fig.

{see

Some

3).

length

seen which

in their construction

spread out laterally

extremities

their

entire

vertical handles are often

combine the horizontal principle


i.e.,

its

and,

while

being more decorative, appear to have a firmer hold of


the vessel

to

which they belong (Fig.

3).

Handles,

having only one point of attachment, were subject to


different forms of

development, arising from difference

of character and from the use to which they were put.

The upper

part,

being detached, terminated differently,

and often finished with a

scroll

This

turned inwards.

served the purpose of checking any tendency to

slip

in

the hand, and consequently there was no necessity, as


in

the preceding variety, to introduce anything in the

middle for the same object

from which ornament could reasonably be developed.

less

For

further

illustrations

handles the student

he

and so there was one point

will

find

is

of

the

treatment of vertical

referred to Plate

XLIX., where

other examples, besides those

applied

to

tankards, at Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.

The

object

in

tracing

varieties of cups, etc., has

and imitative

origin,

and

the development

these

of

been to show their inventive


to direct the attention of the
p

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

2io

student to the

first

which should guide him

principles

endeavours to originate new forms.

his

While he must

largely cultivate his inventive faculty, he

must

limit its

exercise by the particular necessities of the case.


brief survey

some forms

we have been
with which we

always open to

culled from nature

The

able to give indicates that

are familiar were originally

suggested by natural objects.


is

in

This source of inspiration

and many a valuable hint may be

us,

and

utilised

He

by the designer.

is

not to copy natural forms wholesale, and force them to

intended by Nature

serve other purposes than those


herself

but to adapt by his inventive powers any sug-

gestion which they

the acorn

(a,

may

may

Plate L.)

For example, the form of

yield.

arrest our attention,

and we

We

may

desire to adapt

first

take the form, having regard to the subtlety of curve

it

to a cup of the

and general proportion

hanap type.

here our imitative work ends,

and our inventive power begins

its

To make

function.

serve the purpose of a covered cup,

we

cut

it

across and

it

put on a moulding to mark the division, and to provide


a fitting for the cover.

We

then add a knob for raising

the cover, and a stem for support, by which the whole


vessel can be

To

lifted

(see

Fig.

Plate

i,

simply copy the form and raise

" rustic " stem with leaves,

disturbing

the

likeness

to

it

L.).

upon a

and, for fear of

the

original,

to

conceal, as far as possible, the opening, thus

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


is

may
make "

a procedure which, while

and

To

cannot but

unskilful,

it

please the thoughtless

the judicious grieve."

look to nature for models for imitation

our means

Leaves, buds, flowers,

our resources.

forms

to

is

to study nature for suggestions

is

narrow

to

On

inventive powers.

will stimulate his

widen

and animal

fruits,

yield to the diligent student ideas

will all

211

which

same Plate

the

are given other illustrations of the adaptation of suggestive

Fig.

forms.

natural

based upon the acorn.

is

a design for a jug,

by the

Fig. 3 a vase, suggested

general form of a leaflet of the horse-chestnut sketched


at

shows a form derived from the outline of

Fig. 4

b.

the campion flower, as at

c,

and immediately below (Fig.

another shape obtained from the same natural form

6)

is

by

utilising the

of

it.

From

space between two drawings

human

the

form, which of

all

created things contains the most beautiful and


subtle lines, can be extracted

many

pleasing

shapes by simply repeating the contour of some

on either side of a

detail

or

by

in the

filling

vertical axis, thus

space occurring between two profiles

symmetrically disposed, as shown on Plate L., Figs.


8,

the

and

Of

9.

course,

purpose of

consider

its

whether

for

new

in selecting

shapes,

it

a natural form

will

7,

for

be desirable to

suitability

to

the particular case

a useful

or

a purely

decorative

Again, other means of developing varieties

in hand,

object.

of

form

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

212

will

be found

and

in lateral

vertical

expansion, partial

development^ and varying the angle

of

inclination.

In designing a vase or cup, the attention naturally centres

on the body

first

we

and, whether

with a purely

start

inventive form, or one suggested by nature, the next


difficulty that presents itself to

and

position of a stem

the vessel.

of this end

is

the student

foot suitable to the

good method

to aid the

is

the com-

main part of

accomplishment

continue the general line of the body

to

downwards

in a

simple and easy way, forming a pleasant

shape that

will

harmonise with the form above, and to

let

that outline regulate the profile of stem

By this means
may be made,
order.

An

will

will

be found

be

in

that,

is

an agreeable and progressive

For

development.

this

often desirable, either

projecting

various

foot.

whatever projections

extended application of

whole design
the

it

and

parts,

or

for

method

to the

by way of testing
the

purposes

of

instance, suppose that to a completed

design an outline of a simple form be applied,

it

may

then appear that a moulding or some other feature of


the composition could, with advantage, be extended or

By

repressed.

reversing the

process, starting with a

simple controlling shape and developing the form within


it,

the

student

qualities,

so

will

be more

important

in

likely

a design

and XLVIII., where the controlling

to
(see

secure
Plates

those

XLV.

lines are indicated)

* See Chapter IV., " Lessons on Decorative Design."

Plate

L.

TIO

14-

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

214

and

gradation

adopted

Whatever

unity.

order to realise original and beautiful forms,

in

proportion and stability must be regarded,

would be

these, the composition

portion

may be

methods

will

for,

Good

defective.

depend largely upon the variety

When

dimensions, both lateral and vertical.

without
pro-

in

th<

these are

equal, or nearly so, the less satisfying will be the general


effect

because there

be too much repetition, and, as

will

a consequence, a lack of interest and vivacity due to the

absence of variety and contrast

But while

and n).

ment of

it

is

(see Plate

L., Figs.

10

important that in the adjust-

parts there should not be equality of quantities

or dimensions, neither should the other extreme prevail.

The

differences should

enough

apparent

be such

while they are

that,

give pleasure to

to

the

eye,

they

should not be so great as to interfere with the repose

Excitement from too much

and unity of the design.


contrast

is

exhausting

too

much

repetition

wearisome.

is

To

secure agreeable proportion, therefore, in dividing

the

height,

division,

to

should

which

all

be a leading

others

should

drawn,

will

regulate

and

harmonious proportion.

limit
It

dominant

or

be

in

the
will

lateral

shapes of vases,

applies

or

projections

be obvious

what has been advanced as regards proportion


general

pleasant

forms, imagined

while simple controlling

relation

in

there

in

that

the

with equal force to

the laying out of the surfaces of plain forms for decora-

THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL OBJECTS.


tion,

whether divided by
If horizontal,

lines.

the

to

outline

if

215

vertical, horizontal, or oblique

they should be graduated agreeably


the

vertical,

spaces

naturally

will

To

graduate with the shape to which they are applied.

ensure the necessary amount of uniformity, the spaces


will

have

regular

be repeated round the circumference

to

and may be

order,

The

quantities.
latter case

possible

tion

vertical

first,

view circular vases, so

four different

on vases

striping.

ways of

In Figs,

a pattern.

should be observed

without

f, g,

horizontal,

and

well,

may be

classed

a narrow foot and be

made

made

but should have the look of

being well balanced.

weighting the base

and

another condition which

is

with these under consideration, should not only be


to stand firmly

h are

may be covered

every form that

not

more of the methods may

or

Stability

e,

is

it

setting out surface decora-

by spotting, oblique,

Two

as

divided,

be combined, or the whole surface


with

alternating

or

necessity for unequal divisions in this

the- modifications of perspective.

shown

equal

not so great as in the

is

to

in

in

vase

may be

constructed with

quite secure by loading or

but this will not

make

the

work

satisfactory to the eye, for, notwithstanding the device,


it

will

Apart from the

always look insecure and unsafe.

necessary width of the base, there

which the quality of

namely,

in the

is

stability is likely to

another

way

in

be interfered with

use of animals and figures in place of a

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF DESIGN.

216

A figure

proper structural stem.

more

or cup, and

the

made

to support a vase

particularly if in action, will

convey

mind an idea of unsteadiness, no matter how

may be

executed.

Besides which, the use

tf\rrrrm

of figures for direct support will always

be productive of painful impressions by


reason of constrained positions and implied continuous action.

To

an offence against good

taste,

fore

to

be

sort

harm

is

in this faulty

do with errors of

often wrought by

When

thought.

to

figures

way, as

apparent that a similar

in

this

want of

have been used

No.

in

is

and there-

Carelessness

avoided.

much

design has

use them

i,

effect

it is

often

might have

been obtained, with a more satisfactory


result,

by using them

in

conjunction with

more reasonable support,

as in

No.

2.

?G>

F.

M.

EVANS AND

CO.,

well

LIMITED, PRINTERS, CRYSTAL PALACE,

S.E.

to
it

CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 1 7 4 S
202 Main Library

RETURN

TO*

LOAN PERIOD
HOME USE

ALL

BOOKS MAY

BE RECALLED AFTER 7

DAYS

Renewals and Recharges may be made 4 days prior


Books may be Renewed by calling

to the

due date.

642-3405.

DUE AS STAMPED BELOW


LIBRARY USE OHLf
J AN

12

198/

CIRCULATION DE"

"

TWWt ^WU.3

\387

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

FORM NO.

DD6,

CA 94720

BERKELEY,

LD21-100m-7 '39(402s)
!

PS

3|

mm

mm

You might also like