A cartouche is an ornament shaped like a curling leaf or a scroll of parchment, often with a framed panel in the centre for an inscription, a coat of arms or a date.
Characteristics
The cartouche imitates a rolled or curling sheet, with its edges turning inward as if the material were stiff parchment or metal. This gives it a lively, three-dimensional outline.
- The centre is usually a smooth panel, ready to carry text or a symbol.
- The surrounding frame curls, scrolls and folds decoratively.
- It can be carved in stone, moulded in plaster or worked in wood.
Cartouches became especially popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, when designers delighted in rich, sculptural surface decoration. Their flowing shapes suited the taste of the time for movement and display.
Application
A cartouche is typically applied above doorways, on facades and on memorial or foundation stones. It offers an elegant setting for the information a building wants to record, such as the year of construction, the name or arms of the owner, or a motto. Because it draws the eye, it is often placed at a prominent point of the composition, for example over a main entrance or at the centre of a pediment.
Related terms
- Ornament
- Facade
- Pediment
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