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Crocket

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Croquets applied to the finials at Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk, Ostend, Belgium

A crocket (or, croquet) is a hook-shaped decorative element common in Gothic architecture. The name derives from the diminutive of the French croc, meaning "hook", due to the resemblance of crockets to a bishop's crosier.

Description

A crocket is in the form of a stylised carving of curled leaves, buds or flowers which is used at regular intervals to decorate the sloping edges of spires, finials, pinnacles, and wimpergs.

As ornament

When used to decorate the capital of columns, these are called crocket capitals. This element is also used as an ornament on furniture and metalwork in the Gothic style.

Examples

  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Crocket" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 477.