Egg and dart is a style of decorative motif commonly used in neoclassical architecture, furniture and silverware. The design is comprised of alternating bas-relief ovoid objects, and pointed V-shaped ornaments, resembling eggs and arrowheads. Hence the unusual term egg and dart, although the style is also known in some circles as 'egg-and-anchor', 'egg-and-tongue', and even 'egg-and-star'.
First used by the architects and builders of Ancient Greece and later adopted by the Romans, the pattern is most often found in the ancient world as a moulding adorning the capital at the top of an ionic column. One of the earliest examples of egg and dart can be seen at the Temple of Athena Polias in Athens, which began construction circa 421 BC.
As the Grand Tour became an essential part of an aristocratic education in Western Europe from the mid-17th century, so in turn architects began the Neoclassic Revival.
Consequently, egg and dart can be seen as a decoration in the facades of palaces and public buildings built throughout Europe and North America over the last 300 years. These include the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Bank of England in London, and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C.
The motif was not limited to external architectural designs but was also utilised in the home. This took the form of carved pediments above doorways and moulded or carved cornices and coving, which remained popular as an architectural feature well into the 20th century.
As influential architects such as Robert Adam and Sir John Soane created iconic neoclassical residences, so the demand for furniture in the popular fashion influenced the designs of London’s leading cabinet makers.
As a result, egg and dart became a recurring motif of home furnishings throughout the 18th and 19th centuries appearing in bookcases, commodes and cabinets, chairs, mirrors, tables, and fireplaces. It was even applied as a detail decoration in silverware, enabling a homeowner to ensure that every element of their home reflected the latest neoclassical fashion trend both inside and out.
View examples of egg and dart decoration currently available from BADA members