Acanthus (ornament)

Acanthus (ending Latinized ) or Acanthus ( Ancient Greek ὁ ἄκανθος ho Acanthus " the Thorny ") is the archaeological and art historical term for the type of an ornament that picks up the shape of the leaves of the plant genus of the same name in a stylized form.

Inspired by nature: The acanthus leaf

The thistle-like acanthus leaf is a recurring motif in the ornamentation. A row of acanthus leaves adds up to a " acanthus frieze ". Circular symmetrically arranged acanthus leaves form a " Akanthusrosette ". A composite of acanthus vine called " Akanthusranke ".

History and habitat types

The Akanthusornament is still used today as a jewelry factory. Depending on the epoch vary the forms of representation. The earliest evidence comes from the 5th century BC: The acanthus leaf is a characteristic element of the Corinthian capitals.

In decorative work of the Baroque, it experienced another flower. However, the literature from the 16th to the 18th century speaks of acanthus only in connection with capitals and used in other forms of the corresponding Ornaments the term foliage or Lauber. In France in the 18th century - especially during the time of the Regency - was the floral shape often associated with strapwork, a surface ornament, in which the vines were replaced by decorated with flowers lines. This brought forth the collective term foliage and strapwork.

Acanthus ornaments can be found in the architecture of columns, ceilings, and other parts of buildings.

Akanthusaltäre there is in Bohemia and in the Upper Palatinate - there, for example in St. Catherine in Reuth, in the Catholic Church of Thumsenreuth and in the Poppenreuth. The sprawling gilded tendrils framing each image and figural motifs. In contrast to many other altars, this results in a very flat overall impression.

An early form of the leaf -shaped ornamentation is in the base of the Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Rider, which was created in the first half of the 13th century, to be found. A special feature is the huge sheet under the front hooves of the horse, from which emerges a human face.

See also → foliage.

Fourteen Holy Helpers altar in the 1935 built Catholic parish church of Thumsenreuth. The youngest Akanthusaltar der Oberpfalz is a work of Sigmund Windisch.

Pulpit at St. Nicholas Church in Berlin- Spandau with acanthus carvings, created in the late 17th century by an unknown master.

The ornament was also often used in modern times on furniture, in interior decoration, silver work, and as a decorative motif on arms. Similarly, resorted to the present time in rank insignia on appropriate forms.

Acanthus on porcelain

The sculptor and modeller Dominik Auliczek developed in the years 1792-1795 on behalf of the Bavarian Elector Karl Theodor to the taste of the early classicism an absolutely new service in the Louis XVI style. The pieces of the Perl Services had for the first time in the history of European porcelain manufacture are not round, but a dodecagonal shape. Individual particularly emphasized in its functional parts, such as cups, tureens, offering bowls are, moreover, adorned with sculpted acanthus. This service was the house reserved until the beginning of the 20th century Wittelsbach. Since then, the children of King Ludwig III. and Archduchess Marie Therese it were finished in 1918 as a gift for golden wedding of her parents, it is also known as the Bavarian Royal Service. The name Perl carries it because of the border of each object with a fine bead and reel.