Interlaced arches is a scheme of decoration employed in Romanesque and Gothic architecture, where

arch An arch is a curved vertical structure spanning an open space underneath it. Arches may support the load above them, or they may perform a purely decorative role. As a decorative element, the arch dates back to the 4th millennium BC, but stru ...

es spring from alternate piers, interlacing or intersecting one another. In the former case, the first arch

archivolt An archivolt (or voussure) is an ornamental Molding (decorative), moulding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch. It is composed of bands of ornamental mouldings (or other architectural elements) surrounding an arched opening, ...

is carried alternately over and under the second, in the latter the archivolts actually intersect and stop one another. An example of the former exists in

St Peter-in-the-East St Peter-in-the-East is a 12th-century church on Queen's Lane, north of the High Street in central Oxford, England. It is now deconsecrated and houses the college library of St Edmund Hall. The churchyard to the north is laid out as a garden and ...

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

and of the latter in St. Joseph’s chapel in

Glastonbury Glastonbury ( , ) is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low-lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town had a population of 8,932 in the 2011 census. Glastonbury is less than across the River ...

, and in the

Bristol Cathedral Bristol Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bristol. The cathedral was originally an abbey dedicated to St ...

. The arches in the interlacing

arcade Arcade most often refers to: * Arcade game, a coin-operated video, pinball, electro-mechanical, redemption, etc., game ** Arcade video game, a coin-operated video game ** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade video game's hardware ** Arcad ...

can be either semicircular or pointed, and usually form purely decorative

blind arcade Blind often refers to: * The state of blindness, being unable to see * A window blind, a covering for a window Blind may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Blind'' (1987 film), a documentary by Frederick Wiseman about t ...

s. The interlaced arches are most likely an invention of

Islamic architecture Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both Secularity, secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Muslim world, Islamic world encompasse ...

(cf. Bab al-Mardum Mosque, 999-1000 AD and

Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba The Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba ( ), officially known by its ecclesiastical name of Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (), is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Córdoba, Diocese of Córdoba dedicated to the Assumption of Ma ...

, 833-988). This decoration was especially popular in England, with the most famous example at

Lincoln Cathedral Lincoln Cathedral, also called Lincoln Minster, and formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln, is a Church of England cathedral in Lincoln, England, Lincoln, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Lincoln and is the Mo ...

(St Hugh's choir). File:Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz 01, Toledo.jpg, Bab al-Mardum Mosque File:Double Arcade - geograph.org.uk - 637902.jpg, Arcade at St Hugh's choir of Lincoln Cathedral File:Arqueria acceso salon dorado-2.jpg, Non-blind

mixed-line arch The mixtilinear arch (also mixed-line arch) is a decorative (non-structural) arch with intrados consisting of rounded and straight segments connected at angles, its outline sometimes resembling a shaped gable. History The idea of this silhouet ...

es at Aljafería Palace

References

Sources

* * Arches and vaults {{architecture-stub