Of Orna-ment and itsMeaning

OF ORNAMENT AND ITS MEANING

H^HE decorative sense as expressed in thex rich and varied field of surface ornamentis now so much taken as a matter of course,and so associated with certain historic styles,racial types and climatic characteristics, thatfew care to look further into origins than suchwell-defined and comprehensive sources seemto contain, and doubtless did we know all aboutour historic styles (a knowledge of which everyart student is expected to have at his fingers’ends) and could we thoroughly analyze the racialtypes and climatic influences of the world, weshould know as much as could be known aboutornament.

Ornament in its developed, or sophisticatedand conscious, stage seems to me to have a closeanalogy to music of certain types, in w r hich thesensuous delight in rhythm and melody, as wellas the technical skill and invention of themusician, constitute the principal charm.

I imagine, however, that the pleasure adesigner may feel in following out a germ ofwhat I might call ornamental thought to itsnatural or logical development, and the pleasure

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