Dog-tooth
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2020) |
Inarchitecture,adog-toothordogtooth patternis anornamentfound in themouldingsofmedievalwork of the commencement of the 12th century, which is thought to have been introduced by theCrusaders.The earliest example is found in the hall at Rabbath Ammon inMoabin Jordan (c. 614) built by theSassanians,where it decorates thearchmoulding of theblind arcadesand the string courses.[1]The pattern consists of four flower petals forming a square or diamond shape with central elements. The petals have the form of the pointed conicalcanine tooth,eye tooth or cuspid.
In theapseof a church atMurano,nearVenice,it is similarly employed. In the 12th and 13th centuries it was further elaborated withcarving,losing therefore its primitive form, but constituting a most beautiful decorative feature. InElgin Cathedralin Scotland, the dogtooth ornament in thearchivoltbecomes a four-lobedleaf,and inStonechurch in Kent, a much more enriched type offlower.The term has been supposed to originate in a resemblance to thedog tooth violet,but the original idea of a projectingtoothis a sufficient explanation.[1]
See also
[edit]
- Ball flower
- Dentil,also means "tooth", but under cornices
References
[edit]- ^abOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Dog-tooth".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 385.
