HS1 3 5 Gothic Furniture

Summary

This script delves into Gothic era furniture, highlighting its portability and architectural influence. Wealthy individuals, often nomadic, favored movable pieces like stools and chests. Furniture design mirrored Gothic architectural elements, with ornate examples reflecting societal stability and wealth. The script also explores furniture's role in dining, sleeping, and storage, emphasizing the evolution from functional to decorative as society progressed towards the Renaissance.

Takeaways

• 🏺 Early Gothic furniture was minimalistic and portable, often consisting of stools, chests, and boxes due to the nomadic lifestyle of the wealthy and the need for easily transportable possessions.
• 🛏️ Bed frames were not common; instead, beds were often supported by boxes or chests, reflecting the temporary and movable nature of living spaces.
• 🏰 The design of furniture was heavily influenced by Gothic architectural elements, with thrones and chairs incorporating features like pointed arches and tracery.
• 🎨 Evidence of furniture design comes largely from paintings and illuminated manuscripts, as many physical pieces have not survived to the present day.
• 🗝️ Locks became an important aspect of furniture design, with intricate lock mechanisms reflecting both functionality and ornamentation.
• 🖼️ Canopies and curtains were used not only for privacy and protection but also as a status symbol, indicating the wealth and importance of the bed's occupant.
• 🍽️ Dining furniture evolved with the times, with the use of trestle tables and benches being common, and later developments including the introduction of cupboards and credenzas.
• 🗃️ Chests served multiple purposes, from storage to seating, and were often ornately carved or painted, reflecting the growing stability and wealth of society.
• 🏛️ The ornamentation on furniture became more complex over time, with carving techniques like linen fold and Roman work becoming popular in late Gothic and Renaissance periods.
• 🌐 The end of the Gothic era saw a shift towards more stable societies, with the rise of guilds and civil society leading to more complex and permanent furniture designs.

Q & A

What types of furniture were common during the Gothic period?

During the Gothic period, common types of furniture included stools, chests, boxes, and portable bed supports. These were chosen for their utility and portability due to the nomadic lifestyle of the wealthy and the lack of accumulated wealth.

Why were people during the Gothic period often nomadic?

People were often nomadic during the Gothic period because they needed to move from residence to residence to oversee their land and keep things in order. This lifestyle necessitated the use of portable furniture.

How did furniture reflect the architectural styles of the Gothic period?

Furniture during the Gothic period often reflected architectural forms, incorporating elements like pointed arches, tracery, and flamboyant forms similar to those seen in stained glass windows and church facades.

What is a 'box throne' and how does it relate to Gothic furniture?

A 'box throne' is a type of Gothic furniture that has a box at the bottom, sometimes with a seat that opens up for storage. It is related to Gothic furniture because of its use of architectural forms and ornate carvings, which are characteristic of the period.

What is the significance of the 'linen fold' carving style in late Gothic furniture?

The 'linen fold' carving style became extremely popular in late Gothic furniture and continued into the Renaissance. It is characterized by a design that resembles folded fabric, often seen in carved panels on chairs and other furniture.

How were chests used as furniture during the Gothic period?

Chests during the Gothic period were multi-purpose. They were used for storage, could be combined to form larger pieces like beds, and sometimes had ornate carvings or were painted. They could also be transformed into seating with the addition of cushions or textiles.

What role did textiles play in Gothic furniture and interiors?

Textiles played a significant role in Gothic furniture and interiors, often used to drape or cover furniture, add comfort to seating, and provide insulation and privacy in beds. Textiles were also used to decorate walls and were a significant indicator of wealth.

How did the form of seating evolve from benches to chairs during the Gothic period?

During the Gothic period, the form of seating evolved from the dominance of benches to the introduction of chairs, with armchairs being more unusual and reserved for the most important people in a household or church.

What is the significance of the 'canopy' in Gothic beds?

The canopy in Gothic beds served multiple purposes. It not only signified the importance of the bed's occupant but also provided protection, warmth, and a degree of privacy. Canopies could be made of textiles or incorporated into the structure of the bed.

How did the development of locksmithing affect furniture during the Gothic period?

The development of locksmithing led to the creation of extremely complex locks, which became a central part of the design of chests during the Gothic period. Locks were not only functional but also decorative, often featuring intricate carvings.

What changes in furniture and interior design are indicative of the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance period?

The transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance period is marked by a shift towards more complex economic and political systems, which led to more stable societies. This is reflected in the furniture and interior design through the introduction of more permanent and complex pieces, a focus on civil society over the church, and the incorporation of elements from classical design.

Outlines

00:00

🏺 Early Gothic Furniture: Mobility and Architectural Influence

The paragraph discusses the simplicity and portability of early Gothic furniture, which was largely due to the lack of accumulated wealth and the nomadic lifestyle of the wealthy who needed to move between residences to manage their lands. Furniture was primarily functional, designed to support the human body, and often draped with textiles for comfort and aesthetics. The influence of Gothic architecture is evident in the design of furniture, with examples like the coronation throne of England and box thrones featuring architectural elements such as lancet arches and tracery. The paragraph also mentions the use of furniture in paintings and illuminated manuscripts to understand historical use, and the evolution of furniture design towards more ornate and complex forms reflecting the architectural styles of the time.

05:03

🎨 Late Gothic Furniture: The Integration of Renaissance Ideas

This section delves into the late Gothic period's furniture, which began to incorporate ideas from the emerging Renaissance. It highlights the use of linen fold carving and Roman work, drawing inspiration from classical designs. The paragraph describes various forms of seating like stools and benches, and the multi-functionality of chests, which could also serve as beds. It discusses the development of locksmithing with complex locks becoming a central feature and ornament of chests. The paragraph also touches on the role of furniture in dining, with the introduction of cupboards and credenzas, and the use of textiles to enhance the appearance and functionality of furniture.

10:04

🍽️ Gothic Dining and Bedroom Furniture: Textiles and Canopies

The focus of this paragraph is on the furniture used in dining and bedrooms during the Gothic period. It describes the use of trestle tables for dining, often placed against walls with guests seated in a way that allowed them to face the room for protection. The paragraph also discusses the use of canopies and textiles to enhance the importance and comfort of beds, which were not only a sign of wealth but also provided privacy and protection. The paragraph mentions the production of textiles in Europe, particularly in Flanders and Paris, and how these were used to adorn beds, making them a central feature of wealthy interiors.

15:04

🏠 Transition to Renaissance: Stability and Complex Interiors

This paragraph marks the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance era, noting the increase in economic and political complexity in Europe. It discusses the shift in focus from the church to civil society and the rise of guilds and city-states. The paragraph describes changes in interior design, with the Marauding Altarpiece serving as an example of a middle-class home's interior. It highlights the presence of beautifully crafted furniture like a swiveling-back bench and a central table, both of which could be adjusted for comfort and use. The paragraph also touches on the use of niches for displaying cookware and the typical treatment of windows with wooden shutters and glazed tops.

20:07

🏛️ Gothic Architectural Elements in Furniture and Interiors

The final paragraph summarizes the key architectural elements of the Gothic period found in furniture and interiors. It mentions features like the pointed arch or lancet window, quatrefoil, rondelle, trefoil, crockets, and interlacing motifs. These elements were not only integral to the architecture but were also translated into furniture design, creating a cohesive aesthetic between the built environment and the objects within it. The paragraph reflects on the regional variations in the use of these motifs and their popularity throughout medieval Europe.

Keywords

💡Gothic

The Gothic period refers to a style of architecture and art that flourished in Europe during the late medieval period, from the 12th to the 16th century. It is characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. In the video, Gothic architecture is mentioned as having a strong influence on furniture design, with many pieces reflecting architectural forms, such as the coronation throne from England.

💡Furniture

Furniture in the context of the video refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating, eating, and sleeping. The script discusses how furniture during the Gothic period was often portable and functional, reflecting the nomadic lifestyle of the wealthy and the need for furniture that could be easily transported between residences.

💡Portable

Portable, in the context of the video, describes furniture that is lightweight and easy to move. This was important during the Gothic period because the wealthy often moved between residences and needed furniture that could be easily transported. Examples include stools, chests, and boxes that could be used to support beds.

💡Architectural Forms

Architectural forms are the shapes and styles of buildings and structures. In the video, it is mentioned that furniture during the Gothic period often mimicked these forms, such as the coronation throne resembling a Gothic church facade, or the box chair with carvings that represent tracery found in stained glass windows.

💡Nomadic

Nomadic refers to a lifestyle where people do not settle in one place for long periods but instead move from place to place. The video explains that even the wealthy were often nomadic during the Gothic period, needing to move between different residences to manage their lands, which influenced the design of their furniture.

💡Illuminations

Illuminations are decorative elements found in medieval manuscripts, often depicting scenes or stories with vibrant colors and intricate details. The video mentions that illuminations can provide insights into the furniture of the time, as they sometimes include depictions of chairs, stools, and other pieces.

💡Locksmith

A locksmith is a craftsman who makes and repairs locks and keys. The video discusses the development of the art of the locksmith during the Gothic period, where complex locks were created for chests and other furniture, reflecting a growing concern for security and the protection of valuables.

💡Credenza

A credenza is a piece of furniture, often used for storing dishes and serving food. In the video, it is mentioned that credenzas were used in dining rooms and had the additional function of tasting food for poison before it was served to the household, reflecting the concerns for safety and the display of wealth.

💡Trestle Table

A trestle table is a type of table that is supported by trestles, or a frame structure, usually folding for easy storage. The video describes how trestle tables were used for dining during the Gothic period, with guests seated on benches along one side of the table, reflecting the social dynamics and dining customs of the time.

💡Canopy

A canopy is a covering that is suspended or draped over a bed or seat for decorative or protective purposes. In the video, canopies are mentioned as an important element of Gothic furniture, particularly for beds, providing both status and privacy to the sleeper, as well as protection from drafts.

💡Textiles

Textiles refer to materials made by weaving, knitting, or felting natural or synthetic fibers. The video highlights the importance of textiles in Gothic interiors, especially for beds and chairs, where they were used not only for comfort but also to display wealth and status, with the most expensive textiles being the focal point of a room's decor.

Highlights

Furniture during the Gothic period was mostly practical and portable, reflecting the nomadic lifestyle of even the wealthy due to social instability.

Stools, chests, and boxes were the primary furniture pieces, often serving multiple purposes, such as supporting beds or being used for storage.

Furniture was typically draped with textiles and cushions to make it look richer, emphasizing decoration over structural design.

Much of the remaining knowledge of Gothic furniture comes from paintings, as many pieces were portable and got worn out over time.

Architectural elements strongly influenced Gothic furniture design, especially in thrones and chairs, which often mimicked the forms of church facades.

The 'linen fold' carving style, mimicking folded fabric, became popular in late Gothic furniture and continued into the Renaissance.

Chests were multifunctional, used for storage, seating, and sometimes as a base for beds, emphasizing their utility in mobile lifestyles.

Locks on chests became increasingly complex and ornamental, showcasing the growing craftsmanship of locksmiths during this period.

The development of more permanent furniture forms like cupboards and credenzas reflects the growing stability of society in late Gothic times.

The credenza originally served to test food for poison, reflecting the cautious nature of dining practices in wealthier households.

Beds during the Gothic period were often surrounded by canopies or curtains for warmth and privacy, highlighting the communal nature of sleeping arrangements.

Textiles were the most expensive and valuable part of furniture during the Gothic period, often serving as wall coverings in wealthy homes.

Trestle tables were common in Gothic dining rooms, often placed against walls with guests sitting with their backs to the wall for protection.

In wealthier Gothic interiors, furniture pieces like benches and tables featured intricate carvings and could swivel to accommodate different needs.

Gothic furniture incorporated decorative elements from architecture, such as the pointed arch (Lancet windows) and quatrefoils, blending structure and ornamentation.

Transcripts

now there wasn't an awful lot of

furniture in

that we've just covered we get more of

it as we get later into the Gothic but

really what most people had were the

most useful kinds of pieces stools

chests boxes that would support their

beds at night not necessarily even real

bed frames and this is in part due to

the fact that there wasn't an awful lot

of accumulated wealth it also has to do

with the instability of society and even

the wealthy for a good portion of this

time were rather nomadic if they owned a

good deal of land they probably had a

few different residences and would need

to move from residence to residence in

order to oversee their land and keep

things in order

and that meant that what they owned was

primarily quite portable you wouldn't

want to leave behind great pieces of

furniture and wonderful interior

decorations if you weren't going to be

in your home for a number of months and

to sort of left their caretakers there

so everything was packable this means

that much of the furniture was really

just about the support of human body and

then often would be draped or covered

with cushions and textiles that would

make it even richer looking so there

wasn't a lot of thought being put into

furniture and because much of it was

portable it got used up our record of

what people used comes in part from

paintings and so we can see something

for instance like the throne that this

image of the Virgin Mary is sitting in

that's from a Byzantine painting

representing something about the way

that Thrones looked at this time they

had a strong relationship to

architecture and that that seems to play

out and the pieces of furniture that are

extant if we look for an instance at

this series of Thrones which kind of run

the gamut of medieval medieval and

gothic furniture we can see lots of

architectural forms and them in the

first

we have the coronation throne from

England and this has been used for

coronations for centuries it has the

form of a gothic church facade on its

back and on the arms you can see these

little Lancet arch s in the central

image we've got a box throne or box

chair which has a box in the bottom

which sometimes the seat would open up

and you'd be able to store things in

there if we look at the back of that

chair what we see is a kind of carving

that represents the kind of tracery that

we saw in the stained glass windows in

the flamboyant form and the flamboyant

form is when those those lines become

very flamboyant or flame-like and you

can see just how Clement they are there

and then in the next piece we've got

this very kind of lace like chair that

again is using lots of forms that come

directly from Gothic architecture so at

its most ornate furniture in this period

reflects the forms of the architecture

now sometimes it's a little bit harder

for the crafts person to be able to do

that when you've got carved panels you

can you can express that when you're

using turned turned members that are all

joined together it's a little more

difficult but you can see that even in

this joined chair at the bottom in the

struts between the front of the seat and

the stretcher we've got some arches that

that are worked in there so the

craftsperson is still looking to

architectural forms for the ornament

that they're going to apply to the

furniture and we can definitely see that

here in this armchair in this settle

both of them have those boxed bases in

the case of the settle the top does open

up and both of them have these carved

panels what we see in the armchair is a

form of carving called linen fold and

you can see it almost looks like folded

fabric in those panels this becomes

extremely popular in the late gothic and

continues into the Renaissance but

in the Netherlands and really spreading

really all over Europe very much in

France and also in England at the top of

that chair at the crest rail we see

these little ears or finials that are

carved at the top and that becomes an

integral part of furniture design in

Europe for quite a long time and then a

carving that's based on Roman ornament

that is often referred to as Roman work

at this time looking at the settle we

have again some linen fold and we also

have some more of this Roman work where

the artist has really looked at

classical design for their inspiration

so we know that this is really late

gothic because it's starting actually to

take some of the ideas that we see

growing up in the Renaissance into

account besides painting we can also

find representations of furniture in

illuminated manuscripts and there are

lots of examples of this here we have a

series of stools we've got some stools

that are rather like box stools we've

got stools that are made from one solid

piece with the legs just sort of fit it

in through sort of simple um carpentry

and the stool would have been the

dominant form of seating at this time

just as it had been in the past with

chairs and they're almost always

armchairs being more unusual and really

meant for the most important people in

the house or the most important people

in the church the other form that we see

very often is the bench and this becomes

a very popular form in Gothic times and

we see the combination of the bench and

the chest as well so you know chests at

this time were multi-purpose and pieces

of furniture they were great for holding

things and keeping things and what we

see really developing is the art of the

locksmith and extremely complex locks

are developed during this time but these

these boxes could also be used to form

bigger pieces of furniture like beds so

very often what would happen is a few of

these chess

so we'll be pushed together and then the

mattress would be laid on top of that

and of course this is a really kind of

mobile way you can change your furniture

around really easily this way and you

can pack it all up and take it away with

you this is a hutch form and you can see

it's a very very simple kind of

carpentry but then it has rather ornate

carving on it and this could have also

been painted very often these chests

were also painted and of course the most

ornate would have been covered with

panels of carved ivory or I'm very fancy

metalwork but what we're looking at here

is something that could have been owned

by an upper-middle-class family this is

another piece that's rather late this is

15th century France and this is a

tilting chest actually meant to hold

armament and weapons and you can see on

the exterior this very fine carving of

knights dowse ting really telling you

what should be inside of the chest

and you can also see this very ornate

lock I mean again the locks become a

central part of the face of chests not

only complex locks in terms of keeping

the chest closed but also they become a

big part of ornament there are some

other furniture forms that develop for

use in the dining room and also for

holding personal property the more

stable society becomes the more diverse

these forms become you're not going to

take pieces of furniture like this with

you the way that you could a chest and

so this really reflects the fact that

people's lives have become more stable

what we have here on the left hand side

is a cupboard or dress wire this would

be a furniture form that would really

display plate which would be made of

silver or made of pewter even brass and

it would talk about the wealth of the

family it would be placed in an area

that was used for the dining room and it

could be as simple as a series of

shelves attached to the wall or as

complex as this piece here where it has

a lot of architectural

combined with it and is clearly a

permanent piece of furniture the piece

on the right is a credenza and the

credenza form which it ultimately

becomes is a small table that would be

placed near near the dining table and

what it would be used for was the

tasting of food before it was served to

test for poison

and so that credence is really given to

the food once it's been tested and the

tester hasn't passed away and what we

see here are again the linen fold

carving on the doors we see strap hinges

which is a hinge that not only holds the

door to the frame of the piece but also

it moves along that door and it creates

this kind of strap like form and then we

also see carving of grapes and vines

which would have been considered Roman

work on the right hand side we have an

enclosed cabinet which is referred to as

a press this one is from Germany in a

press is intended to be used for the

storage of linens and textiles it has

doors on the top and the bottom that are

very simple panel forms but really

complex flamboyant architectural forms

all around it so it's got this gothic

flamboyant almost kind of lace like

Peirce work at the top and the bottom of

the piece on the left hand side of the

screen we have a slightly simpler form

of an armoire know that armoire although

ultimately used for the storage of

clothing is originally for the storage

of armor and would have been a place

where the armor could have been capped

on pegs and even when it gets used for

clothing for a long time it just has

pegs in it hangers are a relatively

modern development dining was done

either alone on a small table or in a

large space it would have been done at

trestle tables we didn't have the kind

of idea of having a central table in the

room that everybody sits around instead

the tables were placed closer to the

wall and all of the guests

with their backs to the wall which

served to protect them people were

really nervous about being attacked and

allowed them to be able to watch

anything that was taking place in the

center of the room like some kind of

entertainment so we can see here in

these drawings the the image of a great

group of guests being entertained behind

them is a bench and the back of the

bench and it's got carved Lancet windows

and then we have all of the servers and

the musicians reaching them from the

outside of the table and you notice that

it's got one long continuous tablecloth

the way to make a trestle table look

better is to put a lot of textile on it

and we can see that happening in both of

these images too both from illuminated

manuscripts great feasts taking place

with trestle tables all the guests

seated on one side in the server's

bringing the food from the other side

and in this image of just a single diner

he's also sitting at a trestle table and

here you can really see the legs of the

table and he's sitting at a bench with a

high back that also has a canopy and

canopies to no importance and we see

them developing as both textiles that

are draped over important seats and

important beds we also see them

developing as actual structures made of

wood or stone that that are incorporated

into the pieces of furniture and here we

can see that on beds now with beds it

has a slightly different purpose not

only does it make the bed important and

honestly having either one of these beds

in your home during the Middle Ages

would have meant that you were an

awfully important person in the first

place but it also gives the sleeper a

certain amount of protection in the case

of the box bed it keeps you warm and you

can see how the solid sides was just a

little bit of piercing would have

enabled the person sleeping in there to

both get fresh air and also be protected

in terms of cold drafts but as well

sleeping wasn't such a private thing to

do

you weren't necessarily sleeping in a

room by yourself very often you would

servants in the room with you and if you

happen to be a servant yourself you

might be sleeping in a room with an

awful lot of other people so if you were

wealthy enough to have a bed chances

were that you would also surround

yourself with curtains in order to give

yourself a certain amount of privacy and

it would be the textiles that were on

this bed that would be the most

expensive part of it and we can see here

in this image from an illuminated

manuscript just how really beautiful the

textiles would have been the Gothic

period is one where I'm greater and

greater trade is built up with with the

east and there's also a lot of textile

production growing up in Europe itself

and we start to see the production of

tapestries in in Flanders and in Paris

we see all kinds of weaving industries

throughout Europe and the development of

really beautiful stuff and and this

really expresses that here we've got the

image of the Virgin Mary sitting on a

bed that has a kind of canopy form this

is called a tester this canopy that is

only supported from one end and not only

is her bed covered with beautiful

textile but the walls are as well which

really tells us something about the most

wealthy interiors part of the reason

that we don't know exactly what they

look like anymore is because none of its

survived because it was actually hung

with textiles and we can see that again

here in another image from an

illuminated manuscript this time the bed

seems to be raised up on boxes and then

we've got a tester and we've got the

curtains even hanging from the tester

and if you notice there's this kind of

funny teardrop form at one corner and

that's because when when the curtains

that surrounded the bed were not in use

they would be tied and bundled into

themselves to tie a knot and then take

the bottom part and stuff it into the

top part to protect them and to open the

bed up so as we reach the end of the

Gothic era and we are kind of turning

the corner into the Renaissance we see a

much more complex system of economy

growing up in Europe we see a much more

complex system in the political realm

which

helps to create a great deal of

stability we still have a strong focus

on the church but we're losing that

focus to civil society and the growing

up of the strength of guilds the the

power of individual cities and a kind of

shift and power to kings and queens that

we didn't have in the gothic period we

also see much more complex interiors and

we can see this taking a close look at

the maraud altarpiece so the altarpiece

is divided into three sections on the

left-hand side we have the exterior of

the home in the middle we have the

interior and on the left-hand side we

have a close look at a carpenter's

workshop so let's take a look at that

home interior and this would have been a

pretty firmly middle-class family

they've acquired a number of pieces of

furniture they don't have a lot in their

interior but what they do have is really

beautifully made so we've got this long

bench that has these little finials that

are each of them little animals really

beautiful carving also kind of gothic

tracery that decorates the lower portion

of the bench and what's interesting

about the bench is that it has a back

that swivels so if you notice they're

kind of hinges at either end of the of

the back of the bench and it can swivel

so that the back is either placing the

sitter facing the fireplace or facing

away from the fireplace which is really

useful in a small interior this is a

large piece of furniture you wouldn't

have to turn it around you just swivel

the back and in the summertime you

probably wouldn't want to be facing the

fireplace and in the winter you probably

would the other piece of furniture is

this central table and the table also

would have swivel the top would have

swivel and we can figure that out by

looking at the base of the table and how

the decorative shaping of that base is

actually one sided so that when the

table was swiveled it would it would

actually sit up against the wall other

elements in the room that are part of

the way that interiors are treated in

this period are

and we see this niche here has a pointed

arch and again it's in that kind of

truffle form at the top and this was the

place where you would put your cooking

pot when it wasn't I'm sitting in the

fireplace cooking and it's an important

piece for the house this was quite an

investment and you would want to keep it

lovely and shiny and you would put it on

display where when you weren't using it

and we see these niches and in other

interiors as well if we move our

attention over to the window we see a

typical way of treating a window in the

late Gothic period the bottom portion is

a wooden screen and it would be closed

off just by the wooden shutters the top

portion is the only part that has any

glazing or glass used glass is still

very expensive and you would really use

it sparingly so when it was cold outside

you'd close up those wooden shutters and

all of your light would just be coming

in from the glazed portion at the top we

see the ceiling is a flat ceiling with

prominent beams that are held up by

ornate corbels at either end and on the

table itself we see some objects that

become important to the region in which

this painting was painted this is a

Flemish painting and in that area the

Netherlands today blue and white

ceramics were a very important part of

the decorative arts production so this

picture is actually really a very good

representation of what those pieces look

like and the other thing is this turned

brass candlestick which also would have

been produced locally when we look over

at the Carpenters workshop we see even

simpler windows and these again are

wooden shutters this time the shutters

are held secure in the ceiling by these

little hooks that come down and the

carpenter is sitting at a trestle table

or workbench and he's sitting on a bench

with a high back all of these are

probably the most typical furniture

forms for the period and just to look

back at some of the ornament that we've

seen throughout the lecture we

looked at the pointed pointed arch and

how its incorporated into the window

forms and we call that a Lancet window

we've seen a number of examples of the

quatrefoil which we see here in the far

right hand corner and then below that we

have a rondelle that circular form and

in the centre of the Rondo we have a

trefoil just over to the left of that we

see two little drawings of Crockett's

now Crockett's are something that that

are really specific to Gothic

architecture and they're these funny

little leaf like knots that appear and

the edges of architectural forms we see

them incorporated into furniture as well

and in a sense they're almost like in a

canvas leave that's all kind of curled

up in some regions they're really

abundant and in others you just don't

see them at all and then in this

composite picture we have a lot of

interlacing in interlacing becomes a

really big part of ornament in

illuminated manuscripts and then it's

translated to low relief carving in

furniture so we'll often see a kind of

interlace motif and it changes a little

bit regionally but it's popular

throughout Europe during the medieval

time