Encyclopedia of Ornaments

The Encyclopedia of Ornament is the most extensive survey of ornamental traditions attempted. The book will rival the great 19th century encyclopaedias of ornament by Owen Jones and Racinet. The author makes the subject easily accessible to designers, historians and everyone interested in the arts. The starting point of the book is the industrial revolution, when learning how to design ornament was an important part of education in the arts. The book concludes with a study of the potential of the computer in generating ornament and pattern. The author places ornament in both a cultural and artistic context in each of his fifteen scholarly introductions. The bibliography is the most extensive to accompany any illustrated work on the theme of ornament. The short biographies of the principal designers will make the book a particularly valuable reference source.Stuart, Durant is the author of 'Encyclopedia of Ornaments', published 2011 under ISBN 9789054961062 and ISBN 9054961066.