quatrefoil
Four-circle decorative motif
A quatrefoil is a decorative design element featuring four symmetrical lobes or leaves arranged around a central point, resembling a four-petaled flower or clover.
Common in Gothic architecture and ornamental art, quatrefoils appear in windows, stonework, and decorative borders: The cathedral's tracery featured elegant quatrefoils.
Decorative branching stonework
- rose windowCircular tracery-filled window
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- pointed archesSpans peaking at apex
- stained glassColored window art
flying buttress · clerestory · pinnacle · spire · finial · bosses · mullion · cusps
Decorative branching stonework
- fretworkInterlocking ornamental design
- filigreeDelicate twisted-wire ornamentation
- rosetteCircular ribbon ornament
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
scrollwork · motif · carving · inlay · gilding · stencil · lacework · embellishment
Shield bearing heraldry
- coat of armsHereditary symbolic emblem
- chargeCost or accusation
- trefoilThree-lobed decorative motif
- cinquefoilFive-lobed plant or motif
field · tincture · argent · azure · or · sable · vert · blazon
Chance affecting outcomes
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- cardinal directionsPrimary navigational bearings
- crossPass from side to side
- ChristianAdherent of the gospel
medieval · sacred geometry · symmetry · emblem · devotional · ecclesiastical · manuscript · illumination
tracery
Decorative branching stonework
- rose windowCircular tracery-filled window
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- pointed archesSpans peaking at apex
stained glass · flying buttress · clerestory · pinnacle · spire · finial · bosses · mullion · cusps · foils
tracery
Decorative branching stonework
- fretworkInterlocking ornamental design
- filigreeDelicate twisted-wire ornamentation
- rosetteCircular ribbon ornament
arabesque · scrollwork · motif · carving · inlay · gilding · stencil · lacework · embellishment · medallion
escutcheon
Shield bearing heraldry
- coat of armsHereditary symbolic emblem
- chargeCost or accusation
- trefoilThree-lobed decorative motif
cinquefoil · field · tincture · argent · azure · or · sable · vert · blazon · crest
luck
Chance affecting outcomes
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- cardinal directionsPrimary navigational bearings
- crossPass from side to side
Christian · medieval · sacred geometry · symmetry · emblem · devotional · ecclesiastical · manuscript · illumination
four-leaf
Extra-lobed clover variant
- trefoilThree-lobed decorative motif
- shamrockThree-leafed Irish emblem
- cinquefoilFive-lobed plant or motif
foliage · botanical · leaf · lobed · petal · foliate · flora · verdant
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- patternspattern, chevron, geometric pattern, stripes, plaid
- decorative patternschevrons, paisley, crosshatch, chevron, floral
- Motifsarabesque, flower, damask, leaf, vine
- shapescircle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval
- Architectural Featuresdome, Gothic arch, lancet, cupola, rose window