What is an ogee arch?
An ogee arch is an arch with an S-shaped curve: concave at the bottom, convex at the top, ending in a sharp point. It is also known as a donkey-back arch and is characteristic of the late Gothic period.
Form
The ogee arch is composed of four arc segments:
- Lower two arcs — concave, rising from the springings
- Upper two arcs — convex, leading to the point
- Inflection point — where concave meets convex
- Apex — sharply meeting top
The resulting silhouette resembles a donkey’s back (hence the alternative name) or an onion dome.
Application
The ogee arch is found in:
Late Gothic (1380–1500)
In this period — also called Flamboyant Gothic — the ogee arch was widely used:
- Windows — as elaborate tracery
- Portals — above church doorways
- Niches — for statues of saints
- Pinnacles — atop spires and turrets
Examples
| Building | Country | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Rouen Cathedral | France | 14th–15th c. |
| Notre-Dame de l’Épine | France | 15th c. |
| St Mary’s Church (Beverley) | England | 14th c. |
| Old Church Delft | Netherlands | 15th c. |
Tudor and Perpendicular style
In England the ogee arch became a fixed element of Tudor and Perpendicular style:
- Chimney caps — decorative termination
- Window heads — with or without tracery
- Panelling — as the main motif
- Tomb monuments — above statue or inscription
In furniture and ornament
The ogee form was also adopted in:
- Cabinets and bed canopies — for tester roofs
- Stained glass windows — as edge motifs
- Church furniture — choir stalls, lecterns
Structural behaviour
Unlike a “standard” arch, an ogee arch does not work in pure compression. The inflection point creates additional bending stress. Therefore the ogee arch was mainly used as a decorative arch above an actual structural arch or in panels — not as a load-bearing arch for heavy loads.
Difference from other arches
- Pointed arch — straight to the apex, no S-curve
- Donkey arch — has a bulge below but no S-shape
- Three-centred arch — three centres, rounded top
- Trefoil arch — composed of semicircles
Symbolism
The ogee arch carries symbolic meaning: the S-shape represents the flame (hence “flamboyant”). In English heraldry, the ogee is a common element.
Related terms
- Arch
- Pointed arch
- Donkey arch
- Gothic
- Flamboyant style
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