When we talk about Gothic design, the first image that comes to mind is the Gothic Cathedral. These beautiful buildings are vertical in orientation and elaborate in ornamentation. That ornamentation is of a particular form as displayed in the picture above. In particular, the arch, spire and tracery details are most often reproduced on a furniture scale. The most common defect in gothic design is the awkward rendering of these details. That is not to say that these are the only features to include.
Grace and drama are key characteristics of Gothic design so, the curve and proportion of these details need to realize its sense of majesty. The scale of furniture does not always lend itself to a vertical orientation, therefore a whimsical “Carpenter Gothic” is often applied.
