Surf Wiki
Save to docs
arts

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Festoon

Decoration of a wreath or garland hanging from two points

Festoon
Summary

Decoration of a wreath or garland hanging from two points

p=276}}

A festoon (from French feston, Italian festone, from a Late Latin festo, originally a festal garland, Latin festum, feast) is a wreath or garland hanging from two points, and in architecture typically a carved ornament depicting conventional arrangement of flowers, foliage or fruit bound together and suspended by ribbons. The motif is sometimes known as a swag when depicting fabric or linen.

In modern English the verb forms, especially "festooned with", are often used very loosely or figuratively to mean having any type of fancy decoration or covering.

Origins and design

The festoon probably originates in stone representations of garlands of natural flowers, which were hung up over an entrance doorway on holidays, or suspended around an altar.

The design was widely employed both by the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and formed the principal decoration of altars, friezes and panels. The ends of the ribbons are sometimes formed into bows or twisted curves; when in addition a group of foliage or flowers is suspended, it is called a drop or margent.

The motif was later used in Neoclassical architecture and decorative arts, especially ceramics and the work of silversmiths. Variations on the exact design are plentiful; for example, the ribbons can be suspended either from a decorated knot, or held in the mouths of lions, or suspended across the tops of bucrania as in the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli.

Citations

General and cited references

Attribution:

References

  1. (1986). "Dictionary of Architecture". Penguin Books Ltd.
  2. Sturgis, pp. 22-23
  3. (2017). "Ancient Room - Pocket Museum". Thames & Hudson.
  4. (2013). "The Glory of Byzantium and early Christendom". Phaidon.
  5. "LAMBRIS DU CABINET DE L'HÔTEL COLBERT DE VILLACERF".
  6. (1927). "Le Style Louis XIV". Flammarion.
  7. (1774). "Table de Breteuil".
  8. "Ground Floor".
  9. "PAIRE DE VASES " FUSEAU "".
  10. "47 bis avenue Kléber".
  11. (2015). "Ernest Donaud - visul liniei". Editura Istoria Artei.
  12. (2009). "Antoni Gaudí – Complete Works". Evergreeb.
  13. (15 June 2019). "Vila matematicianului Isac Moscuna şi casa Ecaterinei Procopie Dumitrescu, scoase la licitaţie".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

architectural-elements ornaments-(architecture)
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Festoon — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report