The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones is a landmark study in decorative arts and design history, originally published in 1856 and still widely referenced today. This richly illustrated work surveys ornamental styles from a wide range of global cultures and historical periods, including Egyptian, Greek, Persian, Moorish, Indian, Chinese, and medieval European traditions. Jones, a British architect and design theorist, organizes the content into visual plates with accompanying commentary that together argue for universal principles of good design rooted in nature and geometry. The book has been influential not only in architecture and design education, but also in the development of 19th- and 20th-century aesthetics. This edition reproduces Jones’s iconic chromolithographic plates and includes his original commentary, making it an accessible and visually striking reference for artists, designers, historians, and collectors alike.
 
This 2001 paperback edition is in very good condition with minor shelf wear. The binding is tight and the interior pages are clean and unmarked.