Description:
"Histories of Ornament will propel art historical consideration of ornament to new levels. No other volume so clearly shows the profound relevance of medieval and early modern ornament, and the surprising cross-cultural aspects of their histories, to the resurgence of interest in ornament in today's global world."--Persis Berlekamp, University of Chicago
"This book rethinks the study of ornament. Necipoğlu and Payne make a perfect team because of the sustained brilliance and near-global coverage of their scholarship. Their choice of contributors, topics, and approaches reflects their formidable knowledge of the field and its leading researchers."--Philip Sohm, University of Toronto
Review Quotes: "After its famous denunciation by Adolf Loos, ornament seemed a wasteful frivolity to most architects and designers. But that attitude has lost steam in recent years, as firms derive much of their revenue by building in places with a healthier regard for pattern and decoration. Right at the outset, this scholarly tome firmly establishes the vitality of architectural ornament today, leaving readers to peruse premodern histories after having shed their Loosian prejudice."-- "Metropolis"