Racinet's Historic Ornament

More than 850 full-color motifs, collected from the arts and crafts of the world's major cultures, fill this gallery of historic design. From ancient Egypt and Greece, through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, to eighteenth-century France, these decorative ornaments have been adapted from jewelry, illuminated manuscripts, metalwork, textiles, woodwork, frescoes, stained glass, and more. Combined into harmonious collages, the designs reflect thousands of years of artistic excellence. Unparalleled in scope and beauty, this volume -- a breathtaking synthesis of the world's decorative arts selected by a monumental French artist -- offers today's designers a wealth of new insights and inspiration.