The Principles of Ornament is James Ward’s study of decorative design, tracing the history and underlying principles of ornament across cultures and periods. Ward examines how motifs derived from nature, geometry, and earlier traditions are adapted and combined, surveying the ornament of Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and the East.
The book belongs to the practical tradition of design education that flourished in the wake of Owen Jones and the South Kensington schools, aiming to give craftsmen and students a grounding in the grammar of decoration. Ward explains how ornament relates to structure, material, and purpose. For readers interested in the decorative arts, pattern, and the principles that govern good design, the book offers a clear and instructive guide.