April 06, 2006

Obscure Architectural Term of the Day!

It's been a while--mainly because I've just about run out of all the really obscure stuff. BE THAT AS IT MAY, here's one that sound like fun:

RUNNING DOG. A classical ornament often used in a frieze, similar to the wave ornament. It is sometimes called a Vitruvian scroll.

From the Penguin Dictionary of Architecture, Third Edition.

Also a staple of Communist propaganda, at least when coupled to the word lackey.

Anyway, Google searches, oddly enough, tend to return lots of photos of dogs running around, but I did find this website has some nice Roman mosaics that prominently feature the motif. And, there is also this always-useful site that uses the architecture of Buffalo, New York as a three-dimensional architectural dictionary.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at April 6, 2006 01:04 PM
Comments

WooHoo! Now I know what to call it - I've been quilting running dogs all over the place - it's a favorite fill of mine.

That might explain why the quilts in question tend to run off on me.

Posted by: Diane at April 6, 2006 01:07 PM

Let's just hope they don't stink when they get wet.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 6, 2006 01:08 PM