DECORATED, 1272-1377; GEOMETRICAL, 1245-1315; CURVILINEAR, 1315-1360

THE term “decorated” is applied to the work of this period because of the superfluity of its ornaments. Almost every feature was enriched with carved ornament. The predominating form is the curvilinear line, the ogee or ogival (Plate VI., Fig. 2), Hogarth’s “line of beauty and grace,” which occurs in the lines of tracery, the shape of arches, sections of mouldings, and of foliated ornament.

The Geometrical period, 1245-1315, is the overlapping of Early English and Decorated. The term Geometrical is applied on account of the window tracery, which is made up of circles and triangles more or less elaborate. The change from Geometrical to Curvilinear or flowing tracery is demonstrated in Plate VII., Figs. 1, 2; Plate VII., Fig. 2, being a slight alteration of Plate VII., Fig. 1.

Plate VII., Fig. 5, reticulated—net-like—is a common example produced in the same manner as Plate VII., Fig. 2, and is adaptable to all shapes of windows. Many elaborate and beautiful designs were produced on these principles by extension of such elements as in Plate VII., Fig. 3.

Plate VII., Fig. 4, is a common type of window; an extension of the simple two-light window (Plate V., Fig. 9), frequently enriched with cusps and ball-flower (Plate VI., Fig. 3) in the hollows of the mullions.

In Plate VII., Fig. 10, the buttresses are decorated with niches for statuary. A flying-buttress is shown (F.B.), carrying the thrust of the stone-vaulted roof of the nave over the external roof of the aisle into the main buttress, whose weight and consequent stability are increased by the heavy pinnacle. The smaller buttress (C.) resists the thrust of the window arches. Norwich Cathedral displays an interesting array of flying-buttresses.

Plate VI., Fig. 6, shows a tower and spire at the crossing of nave and transepts. The base of the spire and its broaches (Plate V., Fig. 7) are concealed by a parapet wall, with battlements protecting a footway round the spire, which could be used as a place of observation. Mouldings in the Geometrical period attained the greatest refinement. Many can be favourably compared with those of the best Greek periods.

Arches continued to be built in square orders (Plate III., Figs. 6 and 8), and consisted of round mouldings, generally separated by deep hollows and fillets (Plate VII., Fig. 7).

In mouldings of the Curvilinear period (Plate VII., Fig. 8) the ogee superseded the round, and the hollows were shallower. Towards the end of the period the square orders ceased, and the planes of the orders were at about 45° with the vertical (Plate VII., Fig. 9; compare with Plate VIII., Fig. 12).

The wave-moulding (Plate VII., Fig. 9) and the scroll-moulding (Plate VII., Figs. 9, 12, and 13), supposed to resemble a parchment scroll, are conspicuous in the Curvilinear. The general character of the ornament is indicated on Plate VII., in most of which the ogee line is apparent.

The ball-flower (Plate VI., Fig. 3) is a distinctive feature of the Decorated period superseding the tooth ornament of the Lancet (Plate V., Fig. 12). It was applied to hollow mouldings of arches and tracery of windows, vaulting, and spires.

Capitals were moulded as in the section (Plate VII., Fig. 13), or carved, as Plate VI., Fig. 4, generally in imitation of natural foliage, varying from a bold conventionalism (Plate VI., Fig. 5) to a close imitation of nature, as Plate VI., Fig. 1 (a.a.). Animal forms and small human figures were occasionally introduced. Figure sculpture reached its highest degree of excellence in this period.

Construction was further advanced, but in design the climax had been attained in the Geometrical period, and a very gradual decline set in, as shown in excessive ornamentation and literal imitation of natural forms in stonework, which is unsuitable for such delicate treatment on account of its fragility.

The increasing wealth of the nation during this period is indicated by the grandeur of the buildings and the redundancy of ornament.