Quatrefoil
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A quatrefoil (anciently caterfoil) is a decorative element consisting of a symmetrical shape which forms the overall outline of four partially overlapping circles of the same diameter. It is found in art, architecture,
heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, Imperial, royal and noble ranks, rank and genealo ...
and traditional Christian symbolism. The word 'quatrefoil' means "four leaves", from the
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
, "four", plus , "leaf"; the term refers specifically to a four-leafed
clover Clovers, also called trefoils, are plants of the genus ''Trifolium'' (), consisting of about 300 species of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae originating in Europe. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with the highest diversit ...
, but applies in general to four-lobed shapes in various contexts. In recent years, several luxury brands have attempted to fraudulently assert creative rights related to the symbol, which naturally predates any of those brands' creative development. A similar shape with three rings is called a
trefoil A trefoil () is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings, used in architecture, Pagan and Christian symbolism, among other areas. The term is also applied to other symbols with a threefold shape. A similar shape with f ...
, while a shape with five is a cinquefoil.


History

The quatrefoil enjoyed its peak popularity during the Gothic and
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
eras. It is most commonly found as tracery, mainly in
Gothic architecture Gothic architecture is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High Middle Ages, High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It evolved f ...
, where a quatrefoil often may be seen at the top of a Gothic arch, sometimes filled with
stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...
. Although the design is often referred to as of Islamic origin, there are examples of its use that precede the birth of Islam by almost 200 years. The Monastery of Stoudios in
Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...
, built in 462 AD, features arches seen to be the product of taking a regular quatrefoil and dividing it in half.


In ancient Mesoamerica

In ancient
Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area that begins in the southern part of North America and extends to the Pacific coast of Central America, thus comprising the lands of central and southern Mexico, all of Belize, Guatemala, El S ...
, the quatrefoil is frequently portrayed on Olmec and Mayan monuments, such as at La Blanca,
Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...
where it dates to approximately 850 BC. The quatrefoil depicts the opening of the cosmic central axis at the crossroads of the four cardinal directions, representing the passageway between the celestial and the underworld. Another early example of a quatrefoil is found at Chalcatzingo, Morelos state,
Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
, the city that flourished between 700 BCE and 500 BCE. Both a full quatrefoil, and a partial portrayal of quatrefoil are found on monuments here. In the latter case, one half of a quatrefoil represents the opening of a cave where an important personage is seated. This cave opening represents a water source. Thus, quatrefoil seems to be associated with water rituals. The associated imagery is related to agricultural fertility and the arrival of rain, as evidenced by the rain-bearing clouds above the quatrefoil portal. The association between rulership and the quatrefoil symbol continued into the ensuing Late Preclassic period. A good example is found at Izapa. The quatrefoil portrayal continued into the Classic period, as evidenced in the iconography of numerous Classic Maya monuments. A good example is the altar from El Perú (Maya site), which features a quatrefoil on the back of a zoomorphic creature in which sits a ruler. The associated hieroglyphic text refers to the creation narrative of the Maize god's rebirth.


Barbed quatrefoil

The barbed quatrefoil is a quatrefoil pierced at the angles by the points of an inscribed square, which gives an image akin to a heraldic rose, which is termed "barbed" due to the stylised thorns which project at the intersection of each pair of petals. The earliest example of the barbed quatrefoil appears on the south transept buttresses of 1260 in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Similarly, the
trefoil A trefoil () is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings, used in architecture, Pagan and Christian symbolism, among other areas. The term is also applied to other symbols with a threefold shape. A similar shape with f ...
is often combined with an equilateral triangle to form a barbed trefoil. Among the most famous works of art employing the barbed quatrefoil are the bronze panels on the south doors of the
Florence Baptistery The Florence Baptistery, also known as the Baptistery of Saint John (), is a religious building in Florence, Italy. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, John the Baptist, it has been a focus of religious, civic, and artistic life since its ...
(1330–36) by Andrea Pisano, the bronze panels of the north doors of the Florence Baptistery by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi's competition entry for the same doors (''The Sacrifice of Isaac''), as well as ''Head of an Angel'' by Piero della Francesca.


In heraldry

In heraldic terminology, a quatrefoil is a representation of a four-leaf clover, a rare variant of the ''trefoil'' or three-leaf clover. It is sometimes shown "slipped", i.e. with an attached stalk. In archaic English it is called a ''caterfoil'', or variant spellings thereof. A double quatrefoil (or octofoil) is the mark of cadency for a ninth son in the English heraldic system.


In the military

The quatrefoil is mainly used in ecclesiastical buildings, primarily for windows, but Clifford’s Tower in York Castle is built in the shape of four overlapping towers, like a four-leaf clover and is also known as a quatrefoil. In the U.S. Marine Corps, ''quatrefoil'' refers to a four-pointed decoration on the top of a warrant or commissioned Marine officer's dress and service caps (see
peaked cap A peaked cap, peaked hat, service cap, barracks cover, or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It d ...
s, also known in the Marines as "barracks covers"). According to tradition, the design was first used with Marine officers on sailing ships so that Marine sharpshooters in the rigging did not shoot their own officers on the deck during close-quarters gun battles (as when crews of opposing ships attempted to board each other's ship). An official part of U.S. Marine Corps officer uniforms since 1859, the quatrefoil was said initially to have been crossed pieces of rope sewed into officers' caps before becoming officially mandated as a uniform item. In
NATO Joint Military Symbology NATO Joint Military Symbology is the NATO standard for military map symbols. Originally published in 1986 as Allied Procedural Publication 6 (APP-6), NATO Military Symbols for Land Based Systems, the standard has evolved over the years and is c ...
a yellow quatrefoil represents a unit or object whose allegiance is unknown.


Societies

The quatrefoil is the official symbol of the Bishop James Madison Society, est. 1812 at the College of William and Mary.


Fraternity

The quatrefoil is also the symbol of the women's fraternity Phi Mu (a member of the National Panhellenic Conference).


See also

* Foil (architecture) *
Trefoil A trefoil () is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings, used in architecture, Pagan and Christian symbolism, among other areas. The term is also applied to other symbols with a threefold shape. A similar shape with f ...


References

* *


External links

{{Commons category, Quatrefoils
Pictures of Ghiberti's and Brunelleschi's quatrefoilsRoman, Mars, "The Fancy Shape (Episode 106)." 99% Invisible. PRX, 17 March 2014. web: 21 March 2014.
Ornaments Christian symbols Architectural elements Heraldic charges Visual motifs Piecewise-circular curves