Quatrefoil

Four-lobed decorative motif.

Overview

Quatrefoils, crafted in stone or glass, adorn windows or tracery in Gothic architecture.

Core Characteristics

• Symmetrical four-lobed design.
• Decorative and symbolic.
• Gothic prevalence.

Notable Examples

• Reims Cathedral (France, 1290, quatrefoil tracery).
• Sainte-Chapelle (France, 1248, window motifs).

Architectural Connections

• Gothic: Decorative focus.
• Religious: Cathedrals.
• Gothic Architecture: Core movement.

Influence and Legacy

Enhances Gothic ornamentation, led by Gothic craftsmen.

Related Concepts & Techniques

Stained Glass (technique), Ornamentation (theory), Window (element), Neo-Gothic (movement)