Openwork or open-work is a term in art history, architecture and related fields for any technique that produces decoration by creating holes, piercings, or gaps that go right through a solid material such as metal, wood, stone, pottery, cloth, leather, or ivory.[2] Such techniques have been very widely used in a great number of cultures.
The term is rather flexible, and used both for additive techniques that build up the design, as for example most large features in architecture, and those that take a plain material and make cuts or holes in it. Equally techniques such as casting using moulds create the whole design in a single stage, and are common in openwork. Though much openwork relies for its effect on the viewer seeing right through the object, some pieces place a different material behind the openwork as a background.
Techniques or styles that normally use openwork include all the family of lace and cutwork types in textiles, including broderie anglaise and many others. Fretwork in wood is used for various types of objects. There has always been great use of openwork in jewellery, not least to save on expensive materials and weight. For example, opus interrasile is a type of decoration used in Ancient Roman and Byzantine jewellery, piercing thin strips of gold with punches.[3] Other techniques used casting with moulds, or built up the design with wire or small strips of metal. Essentially flat objects are straightforward to cast using moulds of clay or other materials, and this technique was known in ancient China since before the Shang Dynasty of c. 1600 to 1046 BC.[4] On a larger scale in metal, wrought iron and cast iron decoration more often than not have involved openwork.
Scythian metalwork, which was typically worn on the person, or at least carried about by wagon, uses openwork heavily,[5] probably partly to save weight. Sukashibori (roughly translating to "see-through work") is the Japanese term covering a number of openwork techniques, which have been very popular in Japanese art.[6]
In ceramics, if objects such as sieves are excluded (openwork bases for these existed in the West from classical times), decorative openwork long remained mainly a feature of East Asian ceramics, with Korean ceramics especially fond of the technique from an early date.[7] There was little use of it in European ceramics before the 18th century, when designs, mostly using lattice panels, were popular in rococo ceramic "baskets", and later in English silver trays. Openwork sections can be made either by cutting into a conventional solid body before firing, or by building up using strips of clay, the latter often used when loose wickerwork is being imitated. In glass openwork is rather less common, but the spectacular Ancient Roman cage cups use it for a decorative outer layer.
Some types of objects naturally suit or even require openwork, which allows a flow of air through screens, censers or incense burners, pomanders,[8] sprinklers, ventilation grilles and panels, and various parts of heating systems. For exterior screens openwork designs allow looking out, but not looking in. For gates and other types of screens, security is required, but visibility may also be wanted.
In architecture openwork takes many forms, including tracery, balustrades and parapets, as well as screens of many kinds. A variety of screen types especially common in the Islamic world include stone jali and equivalents in wood such as mashrabiya. Belfries and bell towers normally include open or semi-open elements to allow the sound to be heard at distance, and these are often turned to decorative use. In Gothic architecture some entire spires are openwork. The later of the two spires on the West Front of Chartres Cathedral is very largely openwork. As well as stone and wood the range of materials includes brick, which may be used for windows, normally unglazed, and screens. Constructions such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris are also described as openwork. Here an openwork structure was crucial for the engineering, reducing not only weight but wind resistance.[9]
Beginning with the early fourteenth-century spire at Freiburg Minster, in which the pierced stonework was held together by iron cramps, the openwork spire, according to Robert Bork, represents a "radical but logical extension of the Gothic tendency towards skeletal structure."[10] The 18 openwork spires of Antoni Gaudi'sSagrada Família in Barcelona represent an outgrowth of this Gothic tendency. Designed and begun by Gaudi in 1884, they remained incomplete into the 21st century.
Head of an Ethiopian processional cross, 13th or 14th century
Ivory casket, Islamic Spain or Egypt, 13th or 14th century
Detail of Armenian khachkar at Goshavank, 1291. The decoration does not cut right through the slab, so this is strictly relief giving the impression of openwork.
Chinese wood and lacquer screen
Steel plaque from Iran. One of a set of 8, probably for fixing to wood, perhaps in a royal tomb, 17th century
Openwork Hexagonal Ko-Kiyomizu Ware Bowl, c. 1731–1752, Japan, artist unknown, stoneware with overglaze enamels
^"Openwork." Grove Art Online, Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed May 26, 2015, subscription required. Their article reads, in full: "Any form of decoration that is perforated". OED "Openwork", 1, where all examples cited from earlier than 1894 are hyphenated, though this is now less common than the single word.
^Diane Favro, et al. "Rome, ancient, s 5, ii." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed May 27, 2015, subscription required
^Department of Asian Art. "Shang and Zhou Dynasties: The Bronze Age of China". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2004)
^Timothy Taylor. "Scythian and Sarmatian art." Grove Art Online, Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed May 27, 2015, subscription required
^Tokyo National Museum (1976). 和英対照日本美術鑑賞の手引(An Aid to the Understanding of Japanese Art). pp. 132/133. (revised edition; 1964 first ed.), p.132/133
^Whitfield, Roger (ed), Treasures from Korea: Art Through 5000 Years, p. 68, 1984, British Museum Publications, ISBN0-7141-1430-8, 9780714114309. Openwork bases and pedestals "became the characteristic and dominant forms in ceramics" in the Gaya confederacy period.
^Aftel, mandy, Fragrant: The Secret Life of Scent, 2014, Penguin, ISBN1101614684, 9781101614686, p. 129
^Harriss, Joseph (1975). The Eiffel Tower:Symbol of an Age. London: Paul Elek. p. 63. ISBN0236400363.
^Robert Bork, "Into Thin Air: France, Germany, and the Invention of the Openwork Spire" The Art Bulletin85.1 (March 2003, pp. 25–53), p 25.
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Openwork or open work is a term in art history architecture and related fields for any technique that produces decoration by creating holes piercings or gaps that go right through a solid material such as metal wood stone pottery cloth leather or ivory 2 Such techniques have been very widely used in a great number of cultures Openwork basket English Bow porcelain c 1754 1755Ancient Roman gold bracelet from the Hoxne Hoard JULIANE is spelled out in opus interrasile openwork 1 Intricate jalis from the Sidi Saiyyed mosque in Ahmedabad India From the insideThe term is rather flexible and used both for additive techniques that build up the design as for example most large features in architecture and those that take a plain material and make cuts or holes in it Equally techniques such as casting using moulds create the whole design in a single stage and are common in openwork Though much openwork relies for its effect on the viewer seeing right through the object some pieces place a different material behind the openwork as a background Contents 1 Varieties 2 Architecture 3 Gallery 3 1 Architecture gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksVarieties EditTechniques or styles that normally use openwork include all the family of lace and cutwork types in textiles including broderie anglaise and many others Fretwork in wood is used for various types of objects There has always been great use of openwork in jewellery not least to save on expensive materials and weight For example opus interrasile is a type of decoration used in Ancient Roman and Byzantine jewellery piercing thin strips of gold with punches 3 Other techniques used casting with moulds or built up the design with wire or small strips of metal Essentially flat objects are straightforward to cast using moulds of clay or other materials and this technique was known in ancient China since before the Shang Dynasty of c 1600 to 1046 BC 4 On a larger scale in metal wrought iron and cast iron decoration more often than not have involved openwork Scythian metalwork which was typically worn on the person or at least carried about by wagon uses openwork heavily 5 probably partly to save weight Sukashibori roughly translating to see through work is the Japanese term covering a number of openwork techniques which have been very popular in Japanese art 6 In ceramics if objects such as sieves are excluded openwork bases for these existed in the West from classical times decorative openwork long remained mainly a feature of East Asian ceramics with Korean ceramics especially fond of the technique from an early date 7 There was little use of it in European ceramics before the 18th century when designs mostly using lattice panels were popular in rococo ceramic baskets and later in English silver trays Openwork sections can be made either by cutting into a conventional solid body before firing or by building up using strips of clay the latter often used when loose wickerwork is being imitated In glass openwork is rather less common but the spectacular Ancient Roman cage cups use it for a decorative outer layer Some types of objects naturally suit or even require openwork which allows a flow of air through screens censers or incense burners pomanders 8 sprinklers ventilation grilles and panels and various parts of heating systems For exterior screens openwork designs allow looking out but not looking in For gates and other types of screens security is required but visibility may also be wanted Architecture Edit nbsp The secondary spires at Freiburg MinsterIn architecture openwork takes many forms including tracery balustrades and parapets as well as screens of many kinds A variety of screen types especially common in the Islamic world include stone jali and equivalents in wood such as mashrabiya Belfries and bell towers normally include open or semi open elements to allow the sound to be heard at distance and these are often turned to decorative use In Gothic architecture some entire spires are openwork The later of the two spires on the West Front of Chartres Cathedral is very largely openwork As well as stone and wood the range of materials includes brick which may be used for windows normally unglazed and screens Constructions such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris are also described as openwork Here an openwork structure was crucial for the engineering reducing not only weight but wind resistance 9 Beginning with the early fourteenth century spire at Freiburg Minster in which the pierced stonework was held together by iron cramps the openwork spire according to Robert Bork represents a radical but logical extension of the Gothic tendency towards skeletal structure 10 The 18 openwork spires of Antoni Gaudi s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona represent an outgrowth of this Gothic tendency Designed and begun by Gaudi in 1884 they remained incomplete into the 21st century Gallery Edit nbsp Chinese bronze axe head Shang dynasty nbsp Cast Luristan bronze openwork pinhead Iran circa 1000 650 BC nbsp Celtic ornamental gold mounts about 420 BC nbsp Bronze Ordos culture plaque from the eastern end of Scythian art 4th century BC a deer attacked by a wolf nbsp 4th century Roman glass cage cup found in Montenegro nbsp Bronze buckle Georgian 1st to 4th century AD nbsp Japanese canopy ritual banner gilt bronze 7th century nbsp Tōdai ji 8th century nbsp Anglo Saxon brooch from the Pentney Hoard nbsp Fragrance box with openwork lid Korea Goryeo dynasty 11th 12th century bronze nbsp Chinese jade ornament with vines Jin dynasty nbsp Persian incense burner c 11th century nbsp French pyx 1220 1240 nbsp Head of an Ethiopian processional cross 13th or 14th century nbsp Ivory casket Islamic Spain or Egypt 13th or 14th century nbsp Detail of Armenian khachkar at Goshavank 1291 The decoration does not cut right through the slab so this is strictly relief giving the impression of openwork nbsp Chinese wood and lacquer screen nbsp Steel plaque from Iran One of a set of 8 probably for fixing to wood perhaps in a royal tomb 17th century nbsp Openwork Hexagonal Ko Kiyomizu Ware Bowl c 1731 1752 Japan artist unknown stoneware with overglaze enamels nbsp American chair 1760 80 to a design by Thomas Chippendale nbsp Lotus shaped cup with openwork handle China probably 19th century AD rhinoceros horn nbsp Japanese tsuba early 19th century nbsp African dancer s headpiece wood nbsp Detail of handkerchief in button hole embroidery Germany or Switzerland 19th century 11 Architecture gallery Edit nbsp At Borobudor hundreds of Buddha statues sit inside openwork stupas here the nearest is partly deconstructed nbsp West front of Chartres cathedral The tower on the left is largely openwork nbsp Window in the Alhambra nbsp Hardwick Hall England 1590s nbsp Brick windows on an Austrian barn nbsp Gothic Revival balustrade in Germany nbsp Cast iron bracket for a gas lamp Vienna nbsp Opernwork fasade of Prosta Tower WarsawSee also EditOpen work charmReferences Edit British Museum Ref 1994 0408 29 Openwork Grove Art Online Oxford Art Online Oxford University Press accessed May 26 2015 subscription required Their article reads in full Any form of decoration that is perforated OED Openwork 1 where all examples cited from earlier than 1894 are hyphenated though this is now less common than the single word Diane Favro et al Rome ancient s 5 ii Grove Art Online Oxford Art Online Oxford University Press accessed May 27 2015 subscription required Department of Asian Art Shang and Zhou Dynasties The Bronze Age of China In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History New York The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2000 October 2004 Timothy Taylor Scythian and Sarmatian art Grove Art Online Oxford Art Online Oxford University Press accessed May 27 2015 subscription required Tokyo National Museum 1976 和英対照日本美術鑑賞の手引 An Aid to the Understanding of Japanese Art pp 132 133 revised edition 1964 first ed p 132 133 Whitfield Roger ed Treasures from Korea Art Through 5000 Years p 68 1984 British Museum Publications ISBN 0 7141 1430 8 9780714114309 Openwork bases and pedestals became the characteristic and dominant forms in ceramics in the Gaya confederacy period Aftel mandy Fragrant The Secret Life of Scent 2014 Penguin ISBN 1101614684 9781101614686 p 129 Harriss Joseph 1975 The Eiffel Tower Symbol of an Age London Paul Elek p 63 ISBN 0236400363 Robert Bork Into Thin Air France Germany and the Invention of the Openwork Spire The Art Bulletin 85 1 March 2003 pp 25 53 p 25 The whole piece LACMAExternal links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Openwork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Openwork amp oldid 1152010461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
