Motif
Arabesque
Interlacing curved stems and stylized plant forms create an ornamental network.
Also searched as: scrolling foliage
Open the interactive guide ↗How it is made
Textile examples combine tendrils, leaves and palmettes in repeated arrangements. The Met records printed cotton examples that echo the ornament of woven luxury textiles.
How to recognize it
Follow the connected curving stems through the repeat.
Common uses
- Decorative textiles
- Dress fabrics
- Furnishings
What to distinguish
Arabesque is an ornamental vocabulary rather than one exact repeat or weave. Use a specific object’s record for its cultural attribution.
Sources & further reading
Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.