Elegance of Quatrefoils: The Timeless Four-Leaf Motif in Gothic Architecture

This entry sits within the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub indexing design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.

white and grey quatrefoil pavement
Quatrefoil floor tiles. Photo by Arın Turkay on Pexels.com

Quatrefoil, from the French “quatre-feuille,” meaning “four leaf,” is a stylized motif with four leaves or lobes. It is often seen as a pierced pattern in the tracery of Gothic windows. These patterns are divided into four leaves or lobes by cusps or featherings. Quatrefoils are commonly found in friezes within the Perpendicular and Decorated styles of architecture.

Dish 1790 - 1810 example of the quatrefoil shape and motif V&A
Dish 1790 – 1810 example of the quatrefoil shape and motif V&A

Sources

Studio Dictionary of Design & Decoration. (1973). United States: Viking Press.

Discover more from Encyclopedia of Design

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.