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Theball-flower (also writtenballflower) is anarchitecturalornament in the form of a ball inserted in the cup of aflower. It came into use in the latter part of the 13th century in England and became one of the chief ornaments of the 14th century,[1] in the period known asDecorated Gothic.[2]
Ball-flowers were generally placed in rows at equal distances in the hollow of amoulding, frequently by the sides ofmullions.[1] Examples are found in many churches of the period includingGloucester Cathedral;St Mary's Church, Bloxham; St. Michael's Church,Swaton (c. 1300);[3] andTewkesbury Abbey (c. 1330).[4] The presence of ball-flowers on the west part ofSalisbury Cathedral has helped date this facade to the 14th century.[5]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ball-flower".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 270.
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