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Crocketed spire of the Notre-Dame Church in Vitré, France
A crocket (or croquet) is a hook-shaped decorative element common in Gothic architecture.[1] The name derives from the diminutive of the French croc, meaning "hook", due to the resemblance of crockets to a bishop's crosier.[2]
Description
A crocket is in the form of a stylized carving of curled leaves, buds or flowers which are used at regular intervals to decorate the sloping edges of spires, finials, pinnacles, and wimpergs.[3]
As ornaments
When used to decorate the capital of columns, these are called crocket capitals. This element is also used as an ornament on furniture and metalwork in the Gothic style.[4]
Examples
- All Souls College – Oxford
- Canterbury Cathedral
- Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris
- León Cathedral – Spain
- Duke Chapel
References
- ^ "Crocket | architecture". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ "Definition of CROCKET". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ "Crocket | architecture". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ "Capital | architecture". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
External links
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 477.