arabesque
A relatively old form of book decoration, revived
by French gilders and reintroduced into England in
about 1829. It consists of interlaced lines and
convoluted curves arranged in a more or less
geometrical pattern. The name derives from the
fact that it was brought to its highest perfection
by Near Eastern artists. The term is also used to
describe a style of ornamentation in relief,
consisting of fanciful human or animal figures
combined with floral forms. Arabesque is also
sometimes inappropriately applied to the embossed
designs on book covers. (181 , 241 , 342 )
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