Decor Arts Now

Flower-like escutcheon on faucet

“If you are going to walk the walk, you should talk the talk.”

Escutcheon: A decorative metal back plate or flange that surrounds a keyhole, door handle, light switch, etc.  It also refers to a similar metal plate that fits over a keyhole and pivots on a pin to expose or hide the hole.  Escutcheon also is the term for the shield in a coat of arms, which sometimes is used as a decorative device on furniture.

Escutcheon with stepping detail for a very pretty doorknob

Romantic Escutcheon for door knocker

Metal key hole escutcheon with drawer pull handle

Owl light switch escutcheon

Pivoting escutcheon

Aesthetic period escutcheon on drawer pull of my Victorian hall tree

Escutcheon necklace and key

Beautiful escutcheon and door handle by Franz von Stuck on the entrance to the Council Room at the Bremen City Hall, Germany.

Midcentury-style atomic star escutcheon

Pivoting escutcheon at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum

Heart shaped escutcheon

Napoleon’s Coat of Arms Escutcheon. Gilt Ormolu. Circa 1804.

Shield-shaped escutcheon

Photo credits: Faucet  Doorknob  Romantic Escutcheon  Drawer pull  Light switch  Pivoting Escutcheon  Aesthetic period escutcheon, my own  Necklace  Germany  atomic star (Rejuvenation sells a reproduction), Escutcheon at BPMM, my own, Heart  Napoleon  Shield-shape

Rococo: an elaborate decorative arts style originating in France  in the early 18th century and characterized by  a profusion asymmetrical scrollwork   (“s-scrolls” and “c-scrolls”) and curvilinear forms.  Described as a “feminine” style. The Rococo style was revived in the Victorian Period.

Rocaille (rhymes with “exile”) : A term used to describe Rococo furniture ornamentation that resembles a shell or the irregular shapes of  small pebbles.  Often seen in the center of Rococo’s characteristic s-scrolls and c-scrolls.   In the early 18th century, it was part of a common phrase “rocaille et coquille,” or “rock and shell.”  In French, the “Style Rocaille” is synonymous with “Rococo.”

Note s-scrolls, c-scrolls and center rocaille element, all Rococo design elements

Rocaille ornament

Architectural detail in the Rococo style

Rococo table, c.1750, Note the irregular pebble shape in center (rocaille)

Rocaille ornamentation in center of headboard

Rococo fireplace screen

Rococo-style wallpaper

Rococo mirror

Christian Siriano shoe with a rocaille heel

Rococo-revival sofa from the Victorian Period

Rococo style hardware

French old and new- Rococo-style mirror and console paired with a Philippe Starck Ghost Chair

Interested in learning more?  Check out the other entries in my Design Dictionary: Acanthus, Caning, Anthemion and Palmette , Caryatid  and Gadrooning.  Design Dictionary is a regular weekly column on Decor Arts Now, usually appearing on Tuesdays.

Photo credits: First image.  Drawing. Rocaille ornament.  Architectural Detail. Rococo table.  Bed.  Fireplace screen. Rococo-style  wallpaper.  Mirror.  Shoe.  Victorian Sofa.  Hardware.  Mirror and Console.