Bas-relief

Bas-relief is a type of sculptural relief where the image protrudes from the background plane by less than half of its own volume. It is often used for decorating buildings, coins, medals, porcelain items, and even furniture. The advantage of this technique is creating expressiveness while saving material. Bas-reliefs adorn the facades of palaces and cathedrals, are engraved on silver, and are used in porcelain vases and panels.

Important point: details of a bas-relief usually do not have deep modeling and are best perceived in side lighting. In Ancient Egypt and Antiquity, bas-reliefs were a way to tell entire stories on walls. In the 19th century, the desire of noble persons to depict themselves on bas-relief medals "in full height" seemed curious — the very effect of the technique was lost. Bas-reliefs are a wonderful combination of flatness and volume: try to notice them around you!