Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/399

 ENGLISH CxOTHIC (EARLY ENGLISH STYLE). 34I F. Mouldings. — These are bold, deeply undercut, and often of pear-shaped section, following the outline of the rectangular recesses (No. 146). The chiselled dog-tooth succeeded the axed nailhead decoration of the Norman period. G. Ornament. — The most characteristic ornament is the dog- tooth, which was generally placed in hollow mouldings, and was used in great profusion (Nos. 143 and 147). The chisel was generally used, taking the place of the axe in the Early Norman period. Carved foliage is conventional, and crisp and fine in treatment (No. 147), typical examples consisting of convex curling masses, known as " stiff leaf foliage." Flat surfaces are often richly diapered (see Glossary, page 6gi), as in Westminster Abbey (No. 127). Sculptured figures of large size were used, and placed in niches with canopies over them. The west front of Wells (i 206-1 242) has 300 statues, being a grand composition where sculpture is fully combined with architecture. In regard to color work, it has been suggested that the carved diapers of this and the next period are copies in stone of the hang- ings or painted decorations of the previous period. There is ground for believing that such carved diapers were colored, as was the case with Greek and Roman ornament. Stained glass rapidly increased in importance, the pieces being small and leaded up in patterns so as almost to suggest the cubic formation of mosaic. A general tone of color pervades the windows, and an unrivalled deep and violet-like blue was a favourite tint, as in the fine thirteenth century glass at Canterbury Cathedral. Examples of an Early English font, piscina, sedilia, and taber- nacle are shown on No. 144, and a gable cross, finial, sculptured vaulting bosses, and carved bracket on No. 149. In the Early English and following periods, exquisite decora- tive art was produced in such works as the Psalters, Missals, Books of Hours and Chronicles, in which the huntsman, fisher- man, shepherd, labourer, scribe, saint, king, knight and monk were represented, forming a valuable record of contemporary life. The Mediaeval Room at the British Museum contains examples of armour metalwork, ivory and woodcarving, caskets, rings and utensils, illustrative of the ornamental art of the periods. THE DECORATED STYLE, also known as the Geometrical and Curvilinear, Middle Pointed, Edwardian, Later Plantagenet, or Fourteenth Century Style, comprises the reigns of Edward II., 1307-1327, Edward III. 1327-1377-