§ 2.—THE TWO KINDS OF FOLIAGE.

A Distinction is made between natural and artificial foliage. They have much in common; and consequently many have supposed that our Western artificial foliage is merely a very-much-conventionalized version of natural foliage. The supposition is correct with regard to Eastern Pattern work, but not in Western Architectural ornamentation.

A simple generalization may make this clear. The ordinary stock foliage of the Ornamentist was evolved in connection with:

(In the West)(In the East)
ARCHITECTURE,
as in Greece.		TEXTILES,
as in Persia.

Hence the primary Elements of decoration were derived from:

(In the West)(In the East)
GEOMETRICAL LINES,
e.g. the meander, spiral, etc.		NATURAL FLOWERS and LEAVES,
e.g. the pine, pomegranate, etc.

Further, it may be observed that the Method of treating these Elements has been different:

(In the West)(In the East)
The Geometrical lines were enriched by the introduction of the details of Natural vegetation; thus becoming gradually more naturalesque. The natural foliage was codified by the introduction of Geometrical arrangement; thus becoming gradually more artificial.

An APPROXIMATION between the two treatments, sometimes appears; but the two kinds—Artificial, and Natural—are essentially different in origin; and should be kept distinct in their application.

This approximation may be shown, in a tabular arrangement, thus:

GEOMETRY...........................................................NATURE
The patterns are merely The plants are copied as
straight lines, dots, and accurately as possible.
portions of circles.
The lines become stems. The plant is applied
without repetition.
Leaves are added to the Repetition is used with the
stems. plants.
Serration is added to the Weaving economy induces
leaf-edge. symmetry.
Similarity of serrated Symmetry induces Geometrical
leaf-edge to the Akanthos Severity, and the Omission
plant, is observed; of all details of the
Imitation becomes more original plant which are not
direct; and this artificial easily worked in connection
foliage becomes termed with geometrical
"Acanthus." arrangement.
Flowers generally circular The Flowers and Leaves
in mass- shape, are added (only) survive; the growth
at the ends of the spiral of the stems is forgotten;
stems. and tradition does the rest.