low relief
Slightly raised carving
Low relief is a sculptural technique where figures project only slightly from a flat background, typically less than half their natural depth.
Also called bas-relief.
The shallow carving creates subtle shadows and remains close to the surface plane: The temple walls featured gods and heroes carved in low relief.
Coins and architectural friezes commonly use this technique.
Ornamental architectural band
- medallionLarge decorative disk pendant
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
- steleInscribed memorial pillar
- panelDistinct flat section
tondo · pediment · tympanum · architrave · sarcophagus · altar · monument · cenotaph
Without much depth
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
gentle · muted · soft · nuanced · dimensional · textured · raised · projecting
Brief guest appearance
- intaglioCarving cut below surface
- sgraffitoScratch-revealed layered decoration
- embossingRaising designs from surfaces
- chasingFollowing to catch
incising · etching · carving · modeling · casting · lapidary · engraving · stucco work
Ancient Egypt's supreme rulers
- ParthenonAncient Greek hilltop temple
- Elgin MarblesRelocated Acropolis carvings
- AssyrianAncient Mesopotamian people
- EgyptianRelating to the pharaohs' land
Roman · Greek · Mesopotamian · Mayan · Angkor Wat · Persepolis · Trajan's Column · antiquity
frieze
Ornamental architectural band
panel · tondo · pediment · tympanum · architrave · sarcophagus · altar · monument · cenotaph · tombstone
shallow
Without much depth
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
gradual · gentle · muted · soft · nuanced · dimensional · textured · raised · projecting · shadowed
cameo
Brief guest appearance
- intaglioCarving cut below surface
- sgraffitoScratch-revealed layered decoration
- embossingRaising designs from surfaces
chasing · incising · etching · carving · modeling · casting · lapidary · engraving · stucco work · metalwork
pharaohs
Ancient Egypt's supreme rulers
- ParthenonAncient Greek hilltop temple
- Elgin MarblesRelocated Acropolis carvings
- AssyrianAncient Mesopotamian people
Egyptian · Roman · Greek · Mesopotamian · Mayan · Angkor Wat · Persepolis · Trajan's Column · antiquity · archaeology
marble
Recrystallized limestone rock
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- alabasterTranslucent carving stone
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
bronze · terracotta · ivory · jade · wood · plaster · clay · stucco · gesso · sandstone
- sculpturestatue, sculpture, sculptor, sculpting, bronze
- metalworkblacksmithing, gilding, silversmithing, enamel, metal crafts
- coinageminting, denomination, dies, mint mark, blanks
- coin featuresobverse, reverse, edge, rim, field
- Ornamental Carvingacanthus, scrollwork, scrolls, foliage, rosettes
- reliefstondo, roundel, medallion, plaque, wall plaque