Projective Ornament: By Claude Bragdon [Paperback]

Claude Bragdon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1992

The need of a new form language; Ornament and psychology; The Key to projective ornament; Three regular polyhdroids; Folding down; Magic lines in magic squares; A philosophy of ornament; The uses of projective onament.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Kessinger Publishing reprints over 1,500 similar titles all available through Amazon.com. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

"Modern architecture, except on its engineering side, has not yet found itself." So stated Claude Bragdon in this 1915 book. An architect himself--and one of the most fascinating thinkers of the early 20th century--Bragdon here blames the urban disconnect from the natural world for the dearth of ornamentation to rival ancient civilizations, which drew inspiration from nature.

As an alternative, Bragdon offers geometry as an appropriately modern, scientific inducement to ornament, and delves into the mystical mathematics of magic lines and magic squares, of tesseracts and hyperspheres, demonstrating their beauty and grace. Complete with charming line drawings of historical architecture and new, geometrically playful forms, this is a book artists and beauty-seekers today will continue to find provocative.

Other works by Bragdon available from Cosimo Classics: Yoga for You, The Eternal Poles, Four-Dimensional Vistas, The Beautiful Necessity, Architecture and Democracy, Episodes from An Unwritten History, and A Primer of Higher Space (The Fourth Dimension). --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 78 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 048627117X
• ISBN-13: 978-0486271170
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,607,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Versatile Resource for Sacred Geometry!, March 4, 2003

By 

Thomas Izaguirre "ratravarman" (Edgewater, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Projective Ornament (Paperback)

This book is a feast for the eyes and joy for the hands of those who would take advantage of the secrets within! It introduces the reader to the simple concepts of projective geometry and set theory as it has been applied to such devices as magic squares and Celtic knotwork. Beyond that, it is illustrated with fantastic line drawings in Art Nouveau style showing how these aesthetic sources can be applied not just to architecture, but costume and ornament design. Almost a century old since its first printing but still very timeless and relevant. Bragdon's writing shows exuberance tempered with a respect for doing the craft right in an almost religious aspect. Very proud to have this in my collection!