Decoration and Motif within a Gothic Cathedral
# Altarpiece : An individual or group of panels or screens located near or on the altar.
# Annulet : A circular finishing found on pillars or piers, sometimes decorated with carvings.
# Archivolt : An ornamental molding seen often in arch shaped portals following the lines of the face with sculpted figures.
# Armatures : Iron framework used within mason-less Rose Windows to support the glass weight.
# Ball flower : An ornamented ball sculpture surmounted in the petals of a flower.
# Bar tracery : The dominant class of Tracery consisting of decorative patterns formed from stone bars..
# Boss (Rib-boss) : Ornamental masonry strips used to conceal the breaks in vault work.
# Chevron :An ancient European design motif consisting of a pattern of pointed zig zags.
# Cinquefoil : A five sided design of converging arcs, often used in frame work.
# Cornice : A decorative horizontal outcropping serving to crown a wall or column.
# Cusp : Found within Tracery decoration to form the meeting point of foils.
# Fan vaulting : An intricate form of Tracery in which the ribs of a Vault arch out in a concave fan pattern.
# Fillet : Delicate adornment strips applied to shafts and archways along the moldings.
# Finial : An ornamental capping piece placed atop spires.
# Fluting : Carved vertical groove work found on Piers, Columns and Pillars.
# Foils : A small arc design used in Tracery, often utilized within Rose Windows.
# Grisaille : A stained glass window incorporating muted tones as opposed to bright colors.
# Grotesques : A class of decorative sculpture forms often found in or on Gothic structures. A term used broadly for gargoyles, although traditionally a gargoyle serves as a drainage spout for rain water, while a grotesque may function solely as decoration.
Gothic History View the Foundation Stone about Gargoyles
# Lierne vaulting : Vaults containing small decorative rib work not originating from the corners; primarily found in England.
# Moldings : Carved contours given to Piers and columns to exploit optical effects of light.
# Ogee arches : An arch formed by the meeting of two double curves forming a long S shape; a definitive design of the Gothic era.
# Pinnacle :A vertical ornament forming the spire of a turret.
# Predella : A series of small images or carvings at the base of an altarpiece.
# Quadratura : An intended architectural illusion used to create the sense of a larger room.
# Reredos : An elaborate wall carving or screen utilized primarily on or behind the high Altar.
# Spandrels : The semi-triangular space formed by arches and the moldings surrounding them.
# Vesica Pisces : The oval shape created by the intersecting of two equal circles. A ancient symbolic motif which has great significance within many cultures. In Christianity the form represents the sacred Body of Christ. source:www.elore.com.
