Margent

Margent decoration sculpted in plaster from Meyer's Handbook of Ornament

In architecture and furniture design, margent is an ornament consisting of a vertical arrangement of flowers leaves, or hanging vines. It was common in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. This motif was developed as a complement to other decorative ornaments, hanging as "drops" at the ends of a festoon or swag. Margent can be used to accentuate the vertical lines of window frames and centered in ornamental panels.

Gallery

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  Renaissance margent on the San Lorenzo Tabernacle, by Desiderio da Settignano and Baccio da Montelupo, 1461, marble, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy
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  Renaissance margents on two pilasters of the entrance of the Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Venice, by Pietro Lombardo, 1481-1489
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  Renaissance margents on two pilasters in Hôtel d'Alluye, Blois, France, unknown architect or sculptor, 1498 (or 1500)-1508
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  Renaissance margents on two pilasters of a door with the emblem of Francis I, 1515-1547, oak and metal, Louvre
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  Renaissance Revival margents on pilasters of the Hielanman's Umbrella, Glasgow, UK, unknown architect, 1879
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  Renaissance Revival margent on a pilaster of the Dimitrie Sturdza House (Strada Arthur Verona no. 13-15), Bucharest, Romania, unknown architect, 1883
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  Renaissance Revival margent on a pilaster of Strada Grigore Cobălcescu no. 18, Bucharest, unknown architect, c.1890

See also

• Marginalia

References

• Lewis, Philippa; G. Darley (1986). Dictionary of Ornament. New York: Pantheon. ISBN 0-394-50931-5.
• Swan, Abraham (1757). Collection of Design in Architecture. Volume II
• Meyer, Franz Sales (1898). Handbook of Ornament.