Egg-and-dart, also known as egg-and-tongue, egg-and-anchor, or egg-and-star,
is an
ornamental Ornamental may refer to:
*Ornamental grass, a type of grass grown as a decoration
*Ornamental iron, mild steel that has been formed into decorative shapes, similar to wrought iron work
*Ornamental plant, a plant that is grown for its ornamental qua ...
device adorning the fundamental quarter-round, convex
ovolo profile of
moulding, consisting of alternating details on the face of the ovolo—typically an
egg-shaped object alternating with a V-shaped element
[ (e.g., an ]arrow
An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers c ...
, anchor, or dart
Dart or DART may refer to:
* Dart, the equipment in the game of darts
Arts, entertainment and media
* Dart (comics), an Image Comics superhero
* Dart, a character from ''G.I. Joe''
* Dart, a ''Thomas & Friends'' railway engine character
* Dar ...
). The device is carved or otherwise fashioned into ovolos composed of wood, stone, plaster, or other materials.
Egg-and-dart enrichment of the ovolo molding of the Ionic capital
The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite or ...
was used by ancient Greek builders, so it is found in ancient Greek architecture (e.g., the Erechtheion at the Acropolis of Athens), was used later by the Romans and continues to adorn capitals of modern buildings built in Classical styles (e.g., the Ionic capitals of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., or the ones of the Romanian Athenaeum
The Romanian Athenaeum ( ro, Ateneul Român) is a concert hall in the center of Bucharest, Romania, and a landmark of the Romanian capital city. Opened in 1888, the ornate, domed, circular building is the city's most prestigious concert hall an ...
from Bucharest). Its ovoid shape (the egg) and serrated leaf (the dart) are believed to represent the opium poppy and its leaves. The moulding design element continues in use in neoclassical architecture.
Gallery
Stock Exchange Palace (Bucharest).jpg, Egg-and-dart under a pediment, in the Stock Exchange Palace of Bucharest ( Romania)
Egg-and-dart ornament.jpg, The ornament is used to decorate building exteriors and for interior stuccos
Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...
0 'Niké' mosaïque à caissons - Pal. Massimo.JPG, Roman mosaic with an egg-and-dart border, that depicts the Ancient Greek goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...
Nike
Ostia antica 84.JPG, Archaeological site in Ostia Antica
Ostia Antica ("Ancient Ostia") is a large archaeological site, close to the modern town of Ostia (Rome), Ostia, that is the location of the harbour city of ancient Rome, 25 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of Rome. "Ostia" (plur. of "ostium") is a ...
Perge - Architekturfragment 1 Eierstab.jpg, Architectural fragment with egg-and-dart moulding in Antalya ( Turkey)
Détail de la cheminée de la grande salle - orbes et dards.JPG, The moulding in Hôtel d'Alluye
The Hôtel d'Alluye is an '' hôtel particulier'' in Blois, Loir-et-Cher, France. Built for Florimond Robertet when he was secretary and notary to Louis XII, the residence bears the name of his barony of Alluyes. On Rue Saint-Honoré near Bloi ...
at Blois (Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher (, ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. Its name is originated from two rivers which cross it, the Loir in its northern part and the Cher in its southern part. Its prefecture is Blois. The INSEE and La P ...
, France)
Orna100-Blatt-Eierstab.png, Egg-and-dart motifs (on right) from '' Meyer's Ornament''
See also
* Rais-de-cœur
Rais-de-cœur (also known as leaf-and-dart and heart-and-dart) is an Ornament (art), ornamental motif made up of heart-shaped leaves (or waterleaf (architecture), waterleaves inside hearts) alternating with spearheads (or darts). This motif was us ...
* Ionic order
The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite or ...
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
Ornaments (architecture)
Visual motifs
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