What is a pattern? History of appearance, deep meaning. Ribbon ornament, history of origin, styles, features, types. Images, photos

Ornament Ornament

(from Latin ornamentum - decoration), a pattern consisting of rhythmically ordered elements; intended for decorating various objects (utensils, tools and weapons, textiles, furniture, books, etc.), architectural structures (both externally and in the interior), works of plastic arts (mainly applied), among primitive peoples - also the most human body(coloring book, tattoo). Associated with the surface that it decorates and visually organizes, an ornament, as a rule, reveals or accentuates the architectonics of the object on which it is applied. The ornament either operates with abstract forms or stylizes real motifs, often schematizing them beyond recognition.

There is no complete clarity regarding the origin of the ornament. It captures the aesthetic understanding of human activity, creatively transforming and ordering nature. There is no doubt that one of the sources of ornamentation of objects was technological processes: many geometric motifs on the most ancient vessels could be a reproduction of imprints of wickerwork made of twigs on clay; various weaves of threads in textiles could also give rise to certain ornamental forms. The ritual, magical role of the ancient ornament, which widely used signs, symbols and stylized images for witchcraft or religious purposes, is also significant. In ornament, especially in folk art, where it is most widespread, the folklore and poetic attitude to the world was imprinted. Over time, ancient ornamental motifs lost their original meaning, retaining decorative and architectural expressiveness. Important in the genesis and further development of the ornament had aesthetic social needs: the rhythmic correctness of the generalized motifs was one of early ways artistic exploration of the world, helping to comprehend the orderliness and harmony of reality.

The emergence of ornament dates back to the most ancient eras of history; its beginnings were recorded already in the Paleolithic period. In the aesthetic culture of the Neolithic, ornament had already reached a wide variety of forms and occupied a dominant place. Subsequently, with the development in the plastic arts proper figurative forms, the ornament loses its dominant position and its original content, forever, however, retaining an important ordering and decorating role in the system of plastic creativity. Every era, every style, every successively revealed national culture developed their own system of ornamentation; therefore, it is a reliable sign that a work belongs to a given time and country. Ornament reaches special development where conventional forms of visual interpretation of reality predominate: in art Ancient East and pre-Columbian America, in Asian cultures of antiquity and the Middle Ages, in the European Middle Ages. In folk art, dating back to the pre-class and early class eras, stable principles and forms of ornament are emerging, which largely determine national artistic traditions.

The defining formal features of the ornament include decorative stylization, flatness, organic connection with the surface bearing the ornament, which he always organizes, often revealing the constructive logic of the object. Not every pattern can be considered an ornament. Thus, a fabric with an endlessly repeating pattern, strictly speaking, is not ornamental. According to the nature of the composition, determined by the shape of the object being decorated, the ornament can be ribbon, centric, bordering, heraldic, filling the surface, or combining some of these types in more complex combinations.

According to the motifs used in the ornament, it is divided into: geometric, consisting of abstract shapes (dots, straight, broken, zigzag, mesh intersecting lines; circles, rhombuses, polyhedrons, stars, crosses, spirals; more complex, specifically ornamental motifs - meander and so on.); plant, stylizing leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. (lotus, papyrus, palmette, acanthus, etc.); zoomorphic, or animal, stylizing figures or parts of figures of real or fantastic animals. Human figures, architectural fragments, weapons, various signs and emblems (coat of arms) are also used as ornamental motifs. A special type of ornament is represented by stylized inscriptions on architectural structures (for example, on Central Asian medieval mosques) or in books (the so-called ligature). Complex combinations of various motifs are not uncommon (for example, geometric and animal forms - the so-called teratology, geometric and plant forms - arabesques).

Felt carpet - "syrmak" (fragment). Kazakhstan.
Literature: N. F. Lorenz, Ornament of all times and styles, c. 1-10, St. Petersburg, 1898-99; E. V. Kilchevskaya, From figurativeness to ornament, M., 1968; T. M. Sokolova, Ornament - the handwriting of the era, Leningrad, 1972; Meyer P., Das Ornament in der Kunstgeschichte, Z., 1944; Evans J., Style in ornament, Oxf., 1950; Bossert H. Th., Arte ornamentale, Barcelona, ​​1957; Ornamente, (Bd) 1, Munch., 1981; Peesch R., Ornamentik der Volkskunst in Europa, Lpz., 1981.

It is human nature to appreciate beauty, and he has always strived to bring it into his life. To do this, repeating dots and lines were applied to simple everyday objects, and then more complex patterns and ornaments. Many centuries have passed from ancient times to the present day, but even today, patterns with a repeating rhythm surround us and decorate our home and clothes. What are patterns and ornaments, how are they similar and what are the differences between them? We will try to answer all these questions.

Pattern - what is it?

It should immediately be noted that the word “pattern” appeared in the Russian language much earlier than the “ornament” borrowed from Latin. And, trying to emphasize the decorative function, the pattern was called “decoration”. So what is a pattern?

This is a drawing in which colors, lines and shadows intertwine to create an image. Not only humans can create it: nature demonstrates its capabilities every day; just remember the stunning ones on the windows.

Thus, the answer to the question of what a pattern is is this: the parts of which can be arranged arbitrarily. Once the elements of the pattern are ordered and systematized, an ornament appears.

Ornament

The concept of “ornament,” which originally meant decoration, entered the Russian language and acquired a slightly different meaning. Today, ornament is understood as a pattern built from repeating motifs or elements rhythmically alternating in a certain order. Ornaments and patterns are used to decorate various objects and clothing, interior and exterior decoration of various buildings, and even the human body in the form of tattoos.

Why are they needed?

For centuries, humanity has created and used patterns and ornaments not only to decorate their everyday life. In many cultures around the world, it is believed that special decorative images, applied to clothing or home, can protect a person from various negative impacts and bring good luck to him. In former times, by what designs, patterns or ornaments adorned a person’s clothing, it was possible to obtain information about his marital status, social status and profession. In modern European world they are not filled with such deep information content, and often we simply do not know what a pattern or ornament is, what semantic load they carry. In some eastern countries, for example, India or Thailand, ornaments in combination with the color of clothing carry a large amount of information about a person, his social status and family, and patterns, for example, in the art of mehendi, can change a person’s destiny.

Classification by motive

All ornaments created by mankind over the centuries can be divided into separate groups, according to the main motif used in them:

1. Geometric, composed of abstract shapes such as points and different kinds lines and geometric shapes of varying complexity.
2. Floral, which uses stylized images of leaves, flowers and fruits in various combinations.
3. Animalistic or zoomorphic, in which they depict stylized or even fantastic birds and animals.
4. Anthropomorphic, use images of figures or parts of the bodies of people of both sexes.

All these types can be combined with each other in various combinations, for example, geometric shapes and plant motifs, as in arabesques.

Classification by form of construction

The following types of ornament are distinguished:

• Ribbon, created by repeating one or more elements in a strip.
• Continuous (mesh) is built for planes that in theory have no restrictions, for example, for fabrics. The repetition of its elements is possible endlessly.
• Centric or compositionally closed, used to decorate various objects, arranging repeating elements around a common center that unites them.

Ornaments and patterns have a centuries-old history, but to this day they are actively used to decorate clothing, human homes and the surrounding environment.

People have been decorating fabrics for making clothes since ancient times: this is evidenced by samples of textiles found in the tombs of pharaohs and various burials, as well as preserved ancient miniatures and wall paintings. To understand what fashionable prints in clothes are now, you need to know the classification of patterns on fabric in general. So, what are the patterns? What types of prints and colors of fabric are there?

Fabric colors - groups:

Modern types of patterns and prints for fabrics can be divided into two groups:

fine ornaments, which are based on objects real world- plants, animals (zoomorphic motifs), landscapes, images of humans (anthropomorphic motif), various objects;
non-figurative ornaments- geometric elements, abstract and psychedelic images that may have originally real prototype, but have changed beyond recognition.

More ancient are the geometric types of patterns on fabrics: they originated from people’s cosmogonic ideas about the world and from technological methods of making objects. These are such well-known ornamental motifs as stripes, zigzags, checks, rhombuses, polka dots, triangles, etc.

Geometric patterns and prints on fabrics

The most famous geometric pattern, probably, is the ancient Greek “meander” ornament.

Meander- an ornament in the form of a broken line in the form of interconnected right angles, imitating the complex edge of the seashore.

Strip

Such fabric colors as stripes were already known in Ancient Egypt: The pharaoh's headdress was made of blue and gold striped fabric. First, stripes appeared on ceramic products: they were formed during their manufacture on a potter's wheel and subsequently began to be painted in various colors. Then the strips began to be used to decorate fabrics.

U Slavic peoples There was a multi-color striped fabric called “motley”: the pattern on it was due to the fact that the yarn on the peasant farm periodically ran out, and the threads purchased at auction differed in color.

Modern striped fabrics are varied in color, width of stripes and distance between them. The following options are available:

Stripes on fabrics for marine-style clothing- regular stripes in a limited color range characteristic of this style: a combination of blue, black or red with white.
Ombre fabric- lightweight silk fabric with a lobe strip formed by a complex twill weave of threads (warp, weft or equilateral weave).
"Raye"- fabric having longitudinal stripes of the same or different widths. The pattern is created by weaving threads of contrasting colors.

Cell

The check is one of the most popular types of patterns on fabric: the first mention of it dates back to the 3rd century AD. Fabrics with checkered patterns received common name"tartan" because they come from Scotland. In this country, dense checkered woolen fabric became a sign of the clan: each clan had a check pattern of a certain color and size, called “tartan”. A special company is engaged in registering tartans, of which there are currently 2,200 options: family, royal, state colors, created on the occasion of holidays - everything is taken into account!

Over the centuries-old history, a huge number of plaid fabrics have been created:

English check- a dim checkered pattern on woolen suiting fabrics, used in classic-style products. The color scheme includes gray and brown tones. An example is the fabric that has been the signature fabric of the Burberry brand since 1924, made in combinations of brown, black, beige and red.
"Vichy"- a gingham pattern that appeared in 1850 and was named after the French city.
Glencheck is a general name for tartan fabrics, including hen's foot and pepita, more often used to denote a fine pattern.
“Chicken foot” (“pied de coque”), “goose foot” (“pie de poule”), “dog tooth”- two-color, contrasting pattern on the fabric in the form of a deformed cell, with an elongated angle - obtained by interlacing threads; fabrics with such a pattern were brought into fashion by Coco Chanel in the 20-40s of the 20th century. In England and Finland this larger design is called a “dog tooth”.
"Madras"- thick cotton fabric with a printed pattern of a large multi-colored checkered pattern with an asymmetrical composition; named after a large industrial city in India.
Oxford- cotton or with the addition of chemical fibers, striped or checkered shirting fabric.
"Pepita"- a small pattern on the fabric in the form of squares “with curls”, obtained by weaving threads of contrasting colors; originally from Spain.
"Prince of Wales" (Esterhazy, Windsor check)- suit wool fabric gray with thin stripes of light and dark color, at the intersection of which cells are formed; the names involve the names of nobles who used these fabrics in their costumes, despite their low origin.
Tartan- a check on dense wool, obtained by interlacing threads, a sign of belonging to a certain genus.
Plaid- the general name for large-cell fabrics.

Diamonds

"Herringbone"- relief colors of suit fabric or drape in the form broken lines, reminiscent of the position of needles on a Christmas tree, formed by interlacing warp and weft threads of different colors like broken twill.

Polka dots

Fabrics with small polka dots have become widespread in women's suit at the end of the 18th century. Modern fashion owes the popularization of this motif in fabric design to Yves Saint Laurent, who is considered the “King of Polka Dots”: he actively used the pattern in the 70s in business jackets and romantic dresses. Another designer, Heinz Østegaard, came up with Polkadots, a large polka dot pattern arranged in rows that form stripes on the fabric.

Polkadots ("polka spots")- print on fabric in the form of parallel rows of large peas.

"Pepper and salt", "fly"- pattern on coarse fabrics such as drape, tweed in the form small dots dark and light color formed by the interweaving of threads.

Types of patterns and prints - photos. Geometic pattern on the fabric: 1 - meander, 2 - nautical stripe, 3 - rayet stripe, 4 - multicolor stripe pattern, 5 - motley stripe, 6 - motley check, 7 - English Burberry check (tartan), 8 - small Vichy check ( glencheck), 9 - chicken foot (glencheck), 10 - mandras check pattern, 11 - pepita print (glencheck), 12 - "Prince of Wales" check (glencheck), 13-14 - tartan check (tartan), 15 - rhombus argyle, 16 - herringbone pattern, 17 - contrasting rectangular dried apricot pattern in the style of the 60s, 18 - geometric pattern.

Fine patterns and prints on fabrics

Floral patterns and prints

There were no plant motifs in primitive ornamentation, but in art Ancient world they are very popular: in Egypt these are stylized images of papyrus, lotus, in Rome - acanthus leaves, oak, laurel, grapes. The diversity of the world of flora is a great source of creativity for designers: fashion will always use them, each time drawing our attention to new objects.

Arabesque- coloring of fabric from ornate patterns in the form of stylized flowers and leaves.
Paisley (“Paisley cucumber”, “Indian cucumber”, “Turkish cucumber”) is a fabric pattern formed using the Buta element of the Persian ornament in the form of a curved leaf and named after the Scottish city in which woolen shawls with this pattern were produced . In Europe it became widespread in early XIX century, when Kashmiri shawls came into fashion.
Coupon (coupon fabric) is a large pattern on fabric, often floral (but not only!), which is largest at the edges of the product, and closer to the periphery it decreases and disappears. Often combined with a border, as it looks logical and natural for a coupon.

Floral prints

Millefleurs (from French - “many flowers”) - a pattern of small flowers on cotton fabrics; the name was first used in tapestry art, where images were often placed against a background depicting flowers.
Fleur-de-lis or "Fleur-de-lis"- a sign of royal power in France since the end of the Middle Ages. This image decorates the coats of arms and flags of various cities of the world - Florence, Quebec, New Orleans, etc. According to recent research, it has been revealed that Fleur-de-lis is a stylized image of an iris, not a lily.

Geometric polka dot pattern - photo: 19 - small peas (speckled), 20 - polkadots pattern, 21 - pepper-and-salt.

Floral pattern on fabric - photo: 22 - arabesques, 23 - paisley, 24 - floral millefleur print, 25 - floral watercolor pattern on fabric, 26 - fler-de-lis pattern, 27 - exotic floral tropical pattern of leaves (jungle print) .

Animal prints

The natural colors of animals are sometimes cooler than all the design delights in this regard, so it is not surprising that prints on fabrics that imitate the patterns of the skins of various representatives of the fauna periodically come into fashion. Animal print is very fashionable right now. The most famous animal prints:

• Snake print- creating a pattern that imitates the pattern of snake skins.


• Tiger print- imitation of tiger skin colors.


• Leopard print- imitation of the colors of leopard skin.


• Zebra print- imitation of zebra skin colors.

Ethnic prints

Psychedelic prints

Complex states of the human psyche are characterized by specific worldviews that can give rise to unusual paintings changed world. These are hallucinations, illusions, mystical images. Characteristics these phenomena are incredible bright colors, visual flow effects, kaleidoscopic patterns, mushroom motifs, images of eyes, peacock feathers, etc. All these phenomena are reflected in fashionable psychedelic prints.

Watercolor print

Abstract print

Patterns and prints on fabric - photo: Animal print: 28 - snake print, 29 - tiger print, 30 - leopard pattern, 31 - zebra print.

Types of fabric colors - photo: 32 - ethnic pattern, 33 - psychedelic print, 34 - abstract print in the style of Picasso, 35 - moiré pattern on fabric, 36 - pattern in the style of Venetian glass, 37 - scale print, 38 - Missoni zigzag pattern, 39 - pattern in patchwork style.

The types of patterns and prints on fabrics are an inexhaustible topic: there are a lot of them! And with every new round of fashion there are more and more of them! Let's mention just a couple more patterns that we haven't mentioned. For example, melange is a fabric made from several colors of threads, or from different shades one color, fabrics with a melange effect are similar to salt-and-pepper fabrics, travert colors are fabrics that have the same or different widths of transverse stripes created by interlacing threads of contrasting colors. The pattern is formed by weft weaving. Or Fil-a-fil (Sh-a-Sh) (in single file, in a line, in steps) - a pattern on fabric with protruding, diagonal stripes. This pattern is created using a twill weave of contrasting color warp and weft threads. The ratio of warp and weft threads in rapport is 1:1. And many other patterns...

Irina Shestakova for

Turkish cucumbers, damask, tartan - these patterns surround us all the time, but not everyone knows how to work with them correctly in the interior. Today we are talking about the most popular, interesting and bright patterns that are used when decorating apartments and houses. How to distinguish them from each other, not to confuse them with each other, and to use them correctly in your own living space?

1. Paisley

Since the pattern is quite colorful, it is best used as an accent – ​​on curtains, bed linen, decorative pillows. Options with wallpaper are not excluded, for example, if you need to focus on any of the walls.

2. Damascus

3. Ikat

4. Tartan

5. Grate

6. Zigzag

7. Stripes

8. Houndstooth

9. Roses

Diamonds in the interior

What is an ornament? This is a pattern that was formed under the influence of a certain culture. People decorate their clothes, household items and their homes with such designs. Previously, ornament played a big role in human life. How is it used today? Read about it below.

Definition

What is an ornament? This is a pattern that consists of ordered elements. It is based on rhythm, that is, a repeating part called report. The definition of an ornament must be sought in its origin.

Ornamentum - Latin word. It means decoration. Such decor was used on household items. They decorated clothes, dishes, weapons and architectural structures. Most often, the ornament carried a certain meaning. Where did people get their inspiration for creativity? From environment. The first ornaments were floral, only later they became geometric. Why?

With the development of exact sciences, people began to think that everything should be built not by inspiration, but according to strict formulas, which in art are called canons. How is the connection between ornament and mathematics manifested? This can be seen by looking at the repetition of part of the ornament. The report serves as a kind of starting point. It organizes the ornament, gives it rigor and ease of perception. There is no need to examine the product from all sides; the brain can independently complete part of the picture, which is repeated at equal intervals.

Story

We understand what an ornament is, but how did it appear? The first information about it can be found in the Paleolithic era. Even then, people realized that organized information is better perceived by humans. In the Neolithic, ornament began to actively develop. Its flourishing occurs together with the development of the Egyptian state. It was during that era that people actively mastered ceramic art. Using threads and reeds, they applied designs to vases and vessels. Moreover, the images had a sacred meaning.

Most often, it was not everyday objects that were decorated, but ritual items. Gifts were brought to the gods and pharaohs in decorated jugs. In the Roman Empire, people began to depict on vases not only geometric and floral decor, but also scenes from life. They decorated amphorae and flowerpots. The history of the emergence of ornament is inextricably linked with the development of culture. People decorated clothes not to make them look presentable, but to appease evil spirits.

Over time, the ornament began to carry everything less sense. With the development of monistic religion, people stopped attaching symbolism great importance. Patterns and ornaments were applied to dishes only for decorative purposes. But still, this layer of culture, which still plays a big role in the development of art.

Types of ornaments

• Technical. What is an ornament? This is a pattern, the very first decor of the product was the one that came out by itself, regardless of a person’s desire. For example, when weaving, the ornament was obtained from the interweaving of threads. That is, by intertwining them in the same sequence, not a chaotic, but an ordered pattern appeared. The same applies to the process of making ceramic products. When unscrewing, the master had to level the pots with stacks, the imprint of which was imprinted on the product.
• Symbolic. Over time, people realized that if the drawing works, then it can be controlled. And so they began to put certain symbols on the product. And immediately they began to be given sacred meaning. For example, people depicted the sun in a circle, and a Greek meander as a wave.
• Geometric. Gradually, the symbols began to be given a clear form. This is how geometric patterns appeared. Moreover, at this stage of development, people began to pay attention not only to shape, but also to color.
• Vegetable. This ornament is still considered the most popular. It is easier to depict than geometric. Each country had its own motives. On ancient Greek vases you can see an image of a grapevine, and on Japanese vases - a chrysanthemum flower.
• Calligraphic. With the development of writing, not only images, but also letters began to be added to the ornament. Even illiterate craftsmen often decorated their products with incomprehensible symbols, which they painstakingly copied from the alphabet. This type of decor is especially widespread in Eastern and Arab countries.
• Fantastic. This ornament combined all the previous types. You can often see fantastic animals, birds and other manifestations of human imagination. This type of decor reached its heyday in the Middle Ages. Then the church forbade the masters to depict a person.
• Astral. From the name it is clear that in this ornament main role the heavenly body was playing. Clouds, other planets and stars could also be seen in it.
• Landscape. It is almost impossible to find such an ornament on ceramic products. But on textiles this type of decor is often found.
• Animalistic. Images of animals and birds have always inspired artists. Therefore, our smaller brothers often became objects of stylization.
• Anthropomorphic. Man often imprints himself in his creation. Male and female figures in all sorts of poses often decorated both household items and clothing.

Ornament in clothes

Only in late XIX V. patterns on clothes ceased to play a big role. After the war, people began to move to cities; they had a lot of worries about finding work and caring for their families. Therefore, clothing began to serve only one purpose - to protect the human body from the cold and prying eyes. Of course, when the world got better, designers and fashion designers began to instill in people the desire to dress beautifully. But in their work, ornaments and patterns had only decorative meaning.

Our ancestors attached great importance to embroidery and weaving. By encoding various words and sentences using ornaments, women tried to protect their family from the influence of evil spirits, damage and the evil eye. People believed in symbolism and actively applied it in life.

Decoration of dishes

Since ancient times, household items have been richly decorated. Ornaments and patterns decorated plates, mugs, bowls and vases. But the ornament on them began to play a decorative role already in 1000 AD. e. With the adoption of the Christian faith, the kings tried to eradicate all kinds of reminders of paganism. Therefore, utensils began to be decorated with floral, geometric or fantastic patterns. And the patterns on the dishes began to gradually become simpler. Today it is difficult to find a service with a complex interweaving of lines along the edge. Increasingly, plates are decorated with a single printed image.

Ornament in the interior

People have always paid attention to interior decor increased attention. But ornament as a type of decorative composition could only be found in the houses of rich people or in the palaces of kings. The peasants decorated their huts with patterns only on the outside. But the palaces were richly decorated from the inside with stucco. And most often it was a floral ornament. It can be found on the ceiling and even on the floor. Mirrors, chandeliers and, of course, furniture were often decorated with patterns that had a report.

Where can you find the ornament today?

Although modern Europeans still have superstitions, they no longer try to protect themselves from the influence of evil spirits by using patterns on clothing. But on the body there are tattoos with sacred meaning applied frequently. People take patterns both from Slavic folklore and from Roman or Egyptian art.

But the inhabitants of the east still pay tribute to ornaments. Like their ancestors, they decorate clothes and household items. Moreover, they do this not for the sake of good memory, but because they believe that patterns bring prosperity, health and happiness to the house.

• Embroidery on clothes was applied mainly to those places through which evil spirits could penetrate. These were the cuffs, collar and hem.
• According to American art historians, such a popular meander in Greece is a drawing of a trap. It was precisely this place that ancient hunters placed to capture wild animals. Today, an ornament with a meander often adorns decorative items that are so beloved by our contemporaries.
• The Celtic design consists of tied knots. And these lines are considered symbolic; they indicate the intertwining of people’s lives and destinies.