Ancient History
The chevron, seen on pottery and petrographs all over the ancient globe, is one of the oldest symbols in human history, with V-shaped markings dating back to the Neolithic age (6th to 5th millennia BC) as part of the Vinca symbols catalogue. The chevron appears to have been utilised as a part of a broader proto-writing system rather than for heraldic or ornamental purposes by the Vinca civilisation responsible for the markings. The symbol is not known to have been passed down to any later cultures.
Many of the more recent specimens dated from around 1800 BC were discovered as part of an archaeological excavation of pottery designs from the palace of Knossos in Crete in modern-day Greece. Sparta (Lacedaemonia (v)) employed a capital lambda on their shields. The Nubian Kingdom of Kerma created ceramics with a decorative repertory limited to geometric motifs such as Chevrons.
Chevron pattern a Valuable Design Motif
Chevron has been growing in popularity for years and shows no signs of slowing down. As a pattern, it is a repeating V-shaped stripe found in everything from pillows to runway outfits to wallpaper.
Iconic Form in Heraldry
The iconic chevron form is elongated into a multi-purpose design tool in a stripe, a spin on the basic zigzag pattern. Single chevrons have been seen on badges and emblems, but the pattern is formed by repetition.
A chevron is a common symbol in heraldry, one of the most basic geometrical patterns seen on many coats of arms. A chevron is made by selecting a visually appealing angle, such as the Golden Angle or any other angle preferred by the artist. It can be altered in a variety of ways, including inversion. It’s called éclaté when the ends are sliced off in an irregular zig-zag pattern that resembles the splintered ends of a shattered piece of wood. A chevronel is a diminutive, shown at a smaller size than an ordinary one.
Chevrons first emerged in heraldry throughout the Middle Ages, particularly in Normandy. The chevron is known as sparre in Scandinavia, and an early form may be found in Armand Desmondly’s arms.
Chevron Pattern Motif for Surface Decoration
It is a symmetrical V shape that can be considered an equilateral or isosceles triangle with the third side cut off. It has always been a valuable motif in surface decorating, whether it is repeated, bordered, interlaced, or diapered.
Chevron Pattern Significance
The chevron pattern comes from the French word chevron, which means rafter or gable. Although there is no definition to prevent freedom in its shape, the chevron’s angle is most commonly between 60 and 70 degrees.
Because of its ease of markings and application to material, the chevron has been used to denote ownership and rank since the Middle Ages, when house and possessions marks emerged so widespread. Its military significance on uniforms is almost certainly a result of its early use.
It portrays a mountain in profile and is a common form in Japanese heraldry.
This icon shape adds a sense of rhythm and colour to your room without becoming overpowering. It’s laid-back and welcoming but not overly so.
Source
Wikipedia contributors. (2021, July 2). Chevron (insignia). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 05:19, July 21, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chevron_(insignia)&oldid=1031664464
Shop Now
Chevron Pattern Carpets
More Design Terms
-
Slipware Pottery – what is it?
Slipware is pottery known by its primary decorating method in which slip is added before firing by dipping, painting or splashing on the leather-hard clay body surface. Slip is an aqueous clay body suspension that is a combination of clays and other minerals, such as quartz, feldspar, and mica.Read More →
-
Japonisme – a French interpretation of a Japanese aesthetic
A French term used to describe a variety of European borrowings from Japanese art was Japonisme. With the opening of trade with Japan following the expedition of the American Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853. The interest in Japanese art in the West, particularly in France, had started to develop. The artist Félix Bracquemond, a friend…
-
Suprematism Russian abstract art & design style
Suprematism, a non-objective art style, was developed by Kasimir Malevich in 1915. It replaced conventional obsession with human face and natural objects with modern symbols. Influenced by artists like El Lissitzky, Suprematism influenced the Bauhaus school and the Constructivist movement in Russia.Read More →
-
Neon Lighting – Dictionary – Design Term
Neon Lighting. Semiflexible, hollow tubes of clear acrylic with small bulbs inside that can be connected to light up all at once or sequentially to produce a “chasing” effect. It’s also known as disco lighting, and it’s given homeowners new illumination alternatives. Lights designers consider neon lighting to be an art form.Read More →
-
Minimalism – Less is More
Minimalism is an art historical and critical term. The purest forms of minimalism include cubes and spheres, plain, unadorned surfaces, and solid colours. Adolf Loos’ famous quote, “Ornament is a Crime,” has become catchphrases for the minimalist design movement.Read More →
-
Shaker Style of Furniture – Simplicity and Functionality
The Shaker furniture style is characterised by simplicity and functionality, made from high-quality materials and features clean lines and minimal ornamentation. It fell out of favour in the early twentieth century but is now appreciated for its timeless elegance and practicality.Read More →
-
Regimental Silverware Reflect the Prestige of the Regiment
Regimental silverware is owned by military regiments for display and utilitarian use. Centrepieces, two-handled cups, tureens, and rose-water basins are used for their intended purposes and serve as symbols of unity and camaraderie within the regiment. They are taken with the regiment wherever it is stationed, reminding them of their history and traditions.Read More →
-
Jenny Lind Style of Furniture
Jenny Lind Style is an American term for spool furniture, characterised by intricately turned spindles and ornate carvings. It fell out of fashion in the early 20th century, but some antique collectors still appreciate its beauty and craftsmanship.Read More →
-
Lithography Don’t Show the Trick, Show the MAGIC
A method of printing from a design drawn directly on a slab of stone or other suitable material. The design is not raised in relief as in woodcut or incised as in line engraving, but drawn on a smooth printing surface. Initially, this surface was provided with a slab of unique limestone, but metal (usually…
-
Regency Tankard – Intricate Low Relief
Regency tankards were made in England during the Regency, 1811-20, with intricate low-relief figures adorning both the body and handle, often depicting scenes from mythology or history. They are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts as they represent a unique piece of history and artistry.Read More →
-
What is Wrought Iron?
The term “wrought iron” refers to the material rather than the products made of iron. Modern mild steel has supplanted wrought iron, a forgeable ferrous material used up until about the middle of the twentieth century. Because of the extensive forming required during its production—under power hammers and through rollers—it was originally referred to as…
-
Brandewijnskom – brandy bowls for birth ceremonies
Brandewijnskom. Brandy bowls were made in Holland and Friesland in the 17th and 18th centuries.Read More →
-
Jardiniere Ornamental Stand Definition and Meaning
A jardinière is a large ornamental stand or holder to display potted plants or cut flowers. The jardinière first appearedRead More →
-
Extension Table a perfect design for small spaces
An extension table is a table whose length can be increased by inserting a leaf or leaves. The Pulman Extension Table is made of durable solid wood and can be used in various settings.Read More →
-
Guilloche two banded decorative motif
The guilloche is a decorative element that encircles a line of bosses with two bands or ribbons intertwined. In the British Regency style, it was particularly well-liked and adopted by furniture designers from Renaissance to the Twenties and Fifties.Read More →
-
Mission Furniture – Design Dictionary Term
The term mission furniture was first popularized by Joseph P. McHugh of New York, a furniture manufacturer and retailer. The word mission references the Spanish missions throughout colonial California. The style became increasingly popular following the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.Read More →
-
Ablution basin – Dictionary of Silverware
Ablution basin. A type of basin for holding water intended: (1) in ecclesiastical usage, for rinsing the hands or some object of church plate, such as a chalice; or (2) in secular usage, for rinsing the fingers at the dinner table (sometimes called a rose-water basin). Its founder donated two ecclesiastical ablution basins in 1515-16…
-
Why Is Shagreen Fish Skin Used on Furniture? – Design Term
Shagreen is fish skin used as a veneer to cover furniture and accessories. Also known as galuchat and sharkskin, shagreen is the skinRead More →
-
Fujina – Japanese Folk Pottery
Fujina pottery is made at Matsue, Shimane. 19th-century products include bluish-green tea bowls and white, yellow, or bluish-green domestic pottery. Later urban work promotes folk art.Read More →
-
The Dark Coloured Vases of Amstelhoek Pottery
Amstelhoek was a Dutch pottery founded in 1897 by Willem Christiaan Hoeker. It produced dark-coloured vases and bowls with white in-lays, brown vases with blue decorations and small animal-shaped vases with white inlays on darkgrounds. In 1903 it went bankrupt, but was still producing earthenware until 1907, when it was taken over by the majolica…
You may also be interested in
Paris and Art in 1950s – influence on design – Encyclopedia of Design
Paris, newly liberated from the German occupation, sprung to life during the 1950s as a centre for all modes of artistic endeavour, most notably in fine art, literature, and music. Its association with romantic literary figures such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Roland Barthes made the city incredibly appealing to every serious-minded man or woman.
Hand Woven Jute Chevron Pattern Throw Rug – Encyclopedia of Design
Hand Woven Jute Cotton Chevron 2’x3′ Throw Rug- Indoor/Outdoor Door mat- Bedroom Entryway Kitchen in Navy made in India
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.