Trefoil

Three-lobed decorative motif.

Overview

Trefoils, carved in stone or glass, adorn Gothic windows and tracery, symbolizing the Trinity.

Core Characteristics

• Three-lobed and symbolic.
• Decorative tracery.
• Gothic prevalence.

Notable Examples

• Notre Dame (France, 1345, trefoil tracery).
• Sainte-Chapelle (France, 1248, trefoil windows).

Architectural Connections

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

Influence and Legacy

Led by Gothic craftsmen, it enhances symbolic ornamentation.

Related Concepts & Techniques

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