I like this old world style of design and artwork for several reasons. In todays world you will rarely see this kind of decoration on the exterior of architecture. And it has several meanings. The images actually have specific meaning. Some of the design is just purely decoration but some of it is directly related to the people and activities that have created this edifice. One of my favorite aspects of design like this is that it may look like some kind of bird with a beak, claws and feathers but if you look closely it will change into a type of feature that is not animate, or any recognizable part of a bird or creature. This is typical of alot of European architectural design of this period. Like a family crest or coat of arms. It is a type of of scrollwork that starts out looking like an animal but the body is just this type of inanimate scrollwork. Very graceful with double meaning.
My work with the NW Coastal Art also has this double meaning characteristic within the scrollwork, emblem, family crest, coat of arms, totem.
