Ornament

Ornament is a method of organizing a pattern based on repetition and mirror reflection of motifs. It underlies decorative systems from ancient Egyptian temples to Islamic ceramics. Symmetry gives rhythm and harmony to the image, creating a sense of order and completeness.

Types of symmetry are axial, central, and translational — the latter is found in endless ornaments on fabrics or friezes. Such a structure works especially effectively in mosaics and paintings, where the viewer's eye seems to 'glide' over repeating elements.

Interestingly, mathematicians identify only 17 types of plane symmetries that can describe any ornamental construction. Even Art Nouveau artists, striving for freedom of form, often used symmetry to emphasize the hidden organization of chaos.