Border Decoration: Early Christian Glass.—Glass for domestic use with Christian decorations dates from the 3d to the early 5th century. Surviving examples are mostly bowls, cups, and small plates with either engraved or gilt decoration. On engraved pieces of the Alexandrian type, the decoration consists of a central medallion depicting in outline a New Testament event, such as the raising of Lazarus, surrounded by a simple border decoration. Gilt glass examples, mostly recovered from Roman catacombs, are circular bases of drinking cups. Here the gold leaf was engraved by needle with figures of the apostles and various Christian symbols and was protected by a glass disc.
THE BEST WAY of planning a border decoration is to work with small groups of plants so you can concentrate on the relationship between the subjects, and so gradually build up the groups into a whole border decoration planting. Choose plants with shapes that complement each other and which make an interesting and varied effect.
You will notice that different plants create a variety of effects. Spiky plants, for example, are active and lead the eye upward and onward to neighboring plants, while gentle hummock-forming plants are calming and bland, and lead the eye horizontally along the border decoration.
At the same time think of height. Either use a tier system with tall plants at the back and shorter ones at the front, or use tall plants in the middle of the group to create peaks of interest, with shorter-growing plants leading the eye upward toward them. This will divert the eye and prevent it from traveling straight down the border decoration, taking it all in at a glance. However, if tall plants are used toward the front of a border decoration, they should be wispy enough to allow the eye to pass through them, yet substantial enough to break the line. |
