"The Berlin school, whose founder was Schinkel, the architect of the noble Berlin Theatre, and of the Museum, which is noteworthy for its magnificent façade, exhibited a decided inclination towards Grecian architecture, and strove to attain a certain purity of form, and delicacy and elegance in details, which where for the most part carried out in the Grecian style. He had to contend against a deficiency in building material. Owing to want of building-stone, the mouldings, and indeed all the architectural details, were unavoidably carried out in stucco; nor was this all, but in order to give the same durability, they were made to project as little as possible. Consequently this architectural style, with the exception of some few public buildings, seemed flat and wanting in power, especially in the case of private dwelling-houses, and frequently presented the appearance of pasteboard-work, or cabinet-work, rather than of a structural edifice. This facility also which stucco afforded for enriching the façade, caused more attention to be paid to decoration than it was entitled to, for ornament should always be kept in subservience to the main and constructive architectural forms."The Altes Museum (German for Old Museum), is one of several internationally renowned museums on Berlin's Museum Island in Berlin, Germany. Since restoration work in 1966, it houses the antique collection (Antikensammlung) of the Berlin State Museums. The museum was built between 1825 and 1828 by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel in the neoclassical style to house the Prussian Royal family's art collection. Until 1845, it was called the Royal Museum.

Theatre at Berlin

"The Berlin school, whose founder was Schinkel, the architect of the noble Berlin Theatre, and of the…

"The buildings which have been constructed in these various styles differ essentially from those which have been carried out in the same styles in other countries. In churches and other buildings erected in the Gothic style this difference mainly consists in deficiency of strongly marked architectural keeping, for both main and subordinate features are generally irregular. In most cases the whole group is highly unsymmetrical, and the tower is at one corner, by which a picturesque effect is aimed at [shown here]. The material and the mode of construction are generally left visible, and it is endeavoured to utilize them as ornament; and this not only externally but also in the interior, where the beams and rafters of the roof are often left quite bare; they are even thus exposed where their appearance is not in keeping with the destination of the buildings."

Memorial Church in Scotland

"The buildings which have been constructed in these various styles differ essentially from those which…

This mantel piece is also known as a chimney piece which originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. This mantel illustrates decorative framework around the fireplace, and includes elaborate designs extending to the ceiling.

Large Surface Mantel

This mantel piece is also known as a chimney piece which originated in medieval times as a hood that…

A mantel offers unique opportunity in its design for a sculptor to demonstrate their skill in carving each of the fine decorative elements.

Small Surface Mantel

A mantel offers unique opportunity in its design for a sculptor to demonstrate their skill in carving…

A border ornamentation used in illuminated manuscripts during the fourteenth century.

Fourteenth Century Illumination Ornaments Border

A border ornamentation used in illuminated manuscripts during the fourteenth century.

A Gothic diaper ornament during the fourteenth century. A diaper ornament is a carved or painted surface of square shapes containing flowers or simple figures.

Gothic Architecture Diaper Ornament

A Gothic diaper ornament during the fourteenth century. A diaper ornament is a carved or painted surface…

A series of grotesque faces from Gothic churches during fourteenth century. The grotesque faces were used to decorate the stone work on churches.

Gothic Architecture Ornament Statue Faces

A series of grotesque faces from Gothic churches during fourteenth century. The grotesque faces were…

A series of grotesque from Claybrooke Church for architectural ornamentation. The grotesque statue on the left is a Lincoln Imp, located on the last column of the Angel Choir.

Gothic Architecture Ornament Statue Imp Faces

A series of grotesque from Claybrooke Church for architectural ornamentation. The grotesque statue on…

The window tracery from St. Margaret's Chapel, Herts from fourteenth century. The tracery is fitted with stained windows containing images from the bible or church history.

Gothic Architecture St. Margaret's Chapel Tracery

The window tracery from St. Margaret's Chapel, Herts from fourteenth century. The tracery is fitted…

This plate is in the shape of a doily, which is an ornamental mat. They are crocheted and sometimes knitted out of cotton or linen thread.

Doily Plate

This plate is in the shape of a doily, which is an ornamental mat. They are crocheted and sometimes…

This ornament serves for hair decorative purposes.

Hair Ornament

This ornament serves for hair decorative purposes.

An open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to hold flowers.

Ornamental Vase

An open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to hold flowers.

A decorative pin for holding a hat to the head, usually by the hair. In Western culture, a hatpin is almost solely worn by a female.

Hat Pin

A decorative pin for holding a hat to the head, usually by the hair. In Western culture, a hatpin is…

This is a pin featuring a protective guard end to prevent accidental puncture.

Pin Guard

This is a pin featuring a protective guard end to prevent accidental puncture.

This is a large herbaceous perennial, usually grown to be used as an ornament.

Sicana Odorifera

This is a large herbaceous perennial, usually grown to be used as an ornament.

An ornamental plant, of the campanulaceae.

Specularia Speculum

An ornamental plant, of the campanulaceae.

This tree is native to Japan, usually seen in the form of an ornament.

Tsuga Sieboldii

This tree is native to Japan, usually seen in the form of an ornament.

Deciduous tree of the Fagaceae family, commonly planted as an ornament.

Fagus Sylvatica

Deciduous tree of the Fagaceae family, commonly planted as an ornament.

"The Wall-pocket Basket filled with grasses, ferns, and flowers, makes a very neat ornament to hang on the wall between or underneath picture-frames, or to stand on the mantel-piece."—Heinrich, 1887

Wall Pocket

"The Wall-pocket Basket filled with grasses, ferns, and flowers, makes a very neat ornament to hang…

"It is made of pressed ferns, grasses, and flowers, with a beautifully colored Butterfly made of paper. This is arranged on cardboard, with a piece of cork to imitate a shell or log, and the grasses and ferns glued on the back of the cork as if they were growing behind the log."—Heinrich, 1887

Design with Ferns

"It is made of pressed ferns, grasses, and flowers, with a beautifully colored Butterfly made of paper.…

A Fin'ial is an ornament, generally carved to resemble foliage, which forms the termination of pinnacles, gables, spires, and other portions of Gothic architecture. This image shows an example of a fin'ial.

Fin'ial

A Fin'ial is an ornament, generally carved to resemble foliage, which forms the termination of pinnacles,…

A Fin'ial is an ornament (generally carved to resemble foliage) which forms the termination of pinnacles, gables, spires, and other portions of Gothic architecture. This image shows an example of a fin'ial.

Fin'ial

A Fin'ial is an ornament (generally carved to resemble foliage) which forms the termination of pinnacles,…

Cinquefoil, a Gothic ornament found in stone decorations of windows or panels.

Cinquefoil

Cinquefoil, a Gothic ornament found in stone decorations of windows or panels.

Cinquefoil, part of a Gothic ornament commonly found in stone decorations of windows or panels.

Gothic Cinquefoil

Cinquefoil, part of a Gothic ornament commonly found in stone decorations of windows or panels.

"And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel. And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude. And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces." 1 Maccabees 1:21-23 DRA
<p>Illustration of Antiochus IV in the temple in Jerusalem. Engraving by William Colley Wrankmore.

Antiochus in the Temple

"And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up…

Illustration of the head of a bishop's staff, also called a crosier. The head is a serpent curled around another reptilian figure and a man with a staff. The serpent symbolizes that the bishop is responsible for the blood of his parish. The lower part is highly ornamented with vines, etc.

Bishop's Staff - Head with Serpent Design

Illustration of the head of a bishop's staff, also called a crosier. The head is a serpent curled around…