Illustrated Architecture Dictionary .............. Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary

Palmette
pal MET

Architecture

Artistic motif based on the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree.

Egypt

It is thought that the palmette originated in ancient Egypt, and was originally based on features of various flowers, including the papyrus and the lotus or lily representing lower and upper Egypt and their fertile union, before it became associated with the palm tree.

In ancient Egypt palmette motifs existed both as a form of flower and as a stylized tree, often referred to as a Tree of Life.

The placement of the palmette-related motifs in ancient Egypt was on the lower registers of temple walls representing emergence of the first fertile mound from the chaos of the primal swamp, on tomb walls, on funereal monuments, on death masks, coffin lids and on door lintels. It is associated both with death and with life.

The fleur de lis, which became a potent and enigmatic emblem of the divine right of kings, said to have been bestowed on early French kings by an angel, evolved in Egypt and Mesopotamia as a variant of the palmette

Greece

A palmette is called an anthemion in Greek archtiectrue.

One of the chief elements in the classical Greek anthemion. One type of ancient Greek palmette resembles honeysuckle flowers, another is more like a palm leaf. Both were used in bands of anthemion ornament.

Found in classical Greek and Roman architecture and derivatives, including Beaux Arts Classicism, Classical Revival, Federal, Georgian Revival, Greek Revival, Neoclassicism, Renaissance Revival, Second Empire

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Furniture

Found in furniture, Persian rugs, and in classical moldings, reliefs, frescoes, and vase paintings

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Examples from Buffalo architecture:

• Illustration above: Albert J. Wright House / Beau Fleuve
  
  
• Sconce: Harlow C. Curtiss House / International Institute
  
  
• Blessed Trinity RC Church
  
  
• Williams-Pratt House (anthemion)
  
  
• 591 Delaware Avenue (anthemion)
  
  
• Spaulding Building (anthemion)
  
  
• Buffalo Savings Bank (anthemion)
  
  
• Chair: Margaret Lautz Munschauer House
  
  
• Table frieze rail: Wilcox Mansion / Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site

Other examples:

• Egyptian palm capital - British Museum, London, England
  
  
• Egyptian palm capital - Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
  
  
• Wrought iron gate ornamentation - Albright Memorial Library, Scranton, Pa.
  
  
• Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens, Greece (anthemion)
  
  
• Corinthian capital - Olympia Museum, Greece
  
  
• Furniture: chair crest- Residence Museum, Munich, Germany