types:
adornment
a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness
arabesque
an ornament that interlaces simulated foliage in an intricate design
bow
a decorative interlacing of ribbons
brass
an ornament or utensil made of brass
cockade
an ornament (such as a knot of ribbon or a rosette) usually worn on the hat
finial
an ornament at the top of a spire or gable; usually a foliated fleur-de-lis
gargoyle
an ornament consisting of a grotesquely carved figure of a person or animal
garnish
any decoration added as a trimming or adornment
hood ornament
an ornament on the front of the hood of a car emblematic of the manufacturer
encrustation,
incrustation
a decorative coating of contrasting material that is applied to a surface as an inlay or overlay
inlay
a decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared slots in a surface
knob,
pommel
an ornament in the shape of a ball on the hilt of a sword or dagger
lunula
a crescent-shaped metal ornament of the Bronze Age
nailhead
something resembling the head of a nail that is used as an ornamental device
necklet
decoration worn about the neck (fur piece or tight necklace) as an ornament
overlay
a layer of decorative material (such as gold leaf or wood veneer) applied over a surface
rosemaling
a Scandinavian style of carved or painted decoration (as on furniture or walls or dinnerware) consisting of floral motifs
set decoration
a decoration used as part of the set of a theatrical or movie production
sgraffito
a ceramic or mural decoration made by scratching off a surface layer to reveal the ground
spiral,
volute
ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center
sprig
an ornament that is made of or that resembles a spray of leaves or flowers
rivet,
stud
ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt)
fin,
tail fin,
tailfin
one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile
tinsel
a showy decoration that is basically valueless
tracery
decoration consisting of an open pattern of interlacing ribs
wind bell,
wind chime
a decorative arrangement of pieces of metal or glass or pottery that hang together loosely so the wind can cause them to tinkle
garnish
something (such as parsley) added to a dish for flavor or decoration
glitter
small pieces of shiny material used as decoration
antefix
carved ornament at the eaves of a tile roof concealing the joints between tiles
argyle,
argyll
a design consisting of a pattern of varicolored diamonds on a solid background (originally for knitted articles); patterned after the tartan of a clan in western Scotland
band,
banding,
stripe
an adornment consisting of a strip of a contrasting color or material
bear claw
an incised design resembling the claw of a bear; used in Native American pottery
beauty spot
a spot that is worn on a lady's face for adornment
boule,
boulle,
buhl
an inlaid furniture decoration; tortoiseshell and yellow and white metal form scrolls in cabinetwork
cavetto
a concave molding shaped like a quarter circle in cross section
circlet
decorated metal band worn around the head
cordon
adornment consisting of an ornamental ribbon or cord
cornice
a molding at the corner between the ceiling and the top of a wall
crocket
an architectural ornament of curved foliage used at the edge of a spire or gable
cyma,
cymatium
(architecture) a molding for a cornice; in profile it is shaped like an S (partly concave and partly convex)
damascene
a design produced by inlaying gold or silver into steel
decal,
decalcomania
either a design that is fixed to some surface or a paper bearing the design which is to be transferred to the surface
device
any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)
dogtooth
a carved pyramidal ornament; used in 13th century England
dossal,
dossel
an ornamental hanging of rich fabric hung behind the altar of a church or at the sides of a chancel
emblem,
icon
special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
epaulet,
epaulette
adornment consisting of an ornamental cloth pad worn on the shoulder
epergne
a large table centerpiece with branching holders for fruit or sweets or flowers
festoon
an embellishment consisting of a decorative representation of a string of flowers suspended between two points; used on pottery or in architectural work
fob
an adornment that hangs from a watch chain
frieze
an architectural ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band between the architrave and the cornice
frog
a decorative loop of braid or cord
guilloche
an architectural decoration formed by two intersecting wavy bands
herringbone,
herringbone pattern
a pattern of columns of short parallel lines with all the lines in one column sloping one way and lines in adjacent columns sloping the other way; it is used in weaving, masonry, parquetry, embroidery
jewellery,
jewelry
an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)
Kakemono
a Japanese (paper or silk) wall hanging; usually narrow with a picture or writing on it and a roller at the bottom
lambrequin
short and decorative hanging for a shelf edge or top of a window casing
linocut
a design carved in relief into a block of linoleum
mandala
any of various geometric designs (usually circular) symbolizing the universe; used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation
marqueterie,
marquetry
inlaid veneers are fitted together to form a design or picture that is then used to ornament furniture
mihrab
(Islam) a design in the shape of niche in a Muslim prayer rug; during worship the niche must be pointed toward Mecca
motif,
motive
a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
ovolo,
quarter round,
thumb
a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse
pendant,
pendent
an adornment that hangs from a piece of jewelry (necklace or earring)
plume
a feather or cluster of feathers worn as an ornament
polka dot
design consisting of a pattern of regularly spaced circular spots
pom-pom,
pompon
decoration consisting of a ball of tufted wool or silk; usually worn on a hat
rib
a projecting molding on the underside of a vault or ceiling; may be ornamental or structural
rosette
an ornament or pattern resembling a rose that is worn as a badge of office or as recognition of having won an honor
screen saver
(computer science) a moving design that appears on a computer screen when there has been no input for a specified period of time
diamante,
sequin,
spangle
adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material used to decorate clothing
spray
flower arrangement consisting of a single branch or shoot bearing flowers and foliage
subbase
the lowest molding of an architectural base or of a baseboard
sunburst
a design consisting of a central disk resembling the sun and rays emanating from it
surbase
the molding or border above the base of a structure (a pedestal or podium or wall)
arras,
tapestry
a wall hanging of heavy handwoven fabric with pictorial designs
tassel
adornment consisting of a bunch of cords fastened at one end
tattoo
a design on the skin made by tattooing
tetraskele,
tetraskelion
a figure consisting of four stylized human arms or legs (or bent lines) radiating from a center
tore,
torus
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
trefoil
an architectural ornament in the form of three arcs arranged in a circle
triskele,
triskelion
a figure consisting of three stylized human arms or legs (or three bent lines) radiating from a center
war paint
adornment consisting of paint applied to the face and body of certain Amerindians before a battle
weave
pattern of weaving or structure of a fabric
flourish
an ornamental embellishment in writing
topping
a flavorful addition on top of a dish