Architectural Ornament

Dictionary entry

1. Stained Glass medieval–present / Technique

   Divides light with colored glass and lead lines, making contour itself structure and story.

2. Azulejo 15th century– / Style

   Portugal's blue-and-white tile as architecture's skin — opening story, map and ornament to the street, making the city itself a readable plate.

3. Kōwhaiwhai 18th century– / Style

   The scroll patterns adorning the rafters of Māori meeting houses: from the koru fern shoot, symmetry, rotation and reflection unfold in red, black and white — a mathematics of curves recording genealogy and story overhead.

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