Cornice, coving or moulding? A plain-English glossary of plaster terms
Decorative plaster has its own vocabulary, borrowed from classical architecture, and it can be confusing. Here are the terms you are most likely to meet, in plain English.
Cornice and coving
Cornice is the decorative moulding that runs where the wall meets the ceiling. It can be very elaborate, with several bands of ornament. Coving is a simpler, usually concave curve doing the same job. In everyday use people often use the words interchangeably, but a cornice usually means something more detailed.
Common mouldings and motifs
- Acanthus. A deeply cut, curling leaf, used on Corinthian columns and countless ceiling roses.
- Anthemion. A fan-shaped motif like a stylised honeysuckle flower.
- Egg and dart. Alternating oval "eggs" and pointed "darts" in a band.
- Bead and reel. A string of round beads separated by thin reels.
- Dentils. Small rectangular blocks in a row, like teeth.
- Patera. A small round or oval ornament, often like a flower.
- Swag and festoon. A draped garland of leaves, flowers or fabric.
- Corbel. A bracket that appears to support something above it.
- Pediment. The triangular or curved top above a door or window.
Learn five words, and you will start seeing them on buildings everywhere.
Ceiling rose or ceiling medallion?
They are the same thing. "Ceiling rose" is the usual British term; "medallion" is more common in the United States. Both describe the decorative piece around a ceiling light.
See the terms in action
Our history of ornament page includes an illustrated glossary, and you will find many of these motifs across our Heritage & Classical collection.
Good to know
Common questions
What is the difference between cornice and coving?
Both run along the junction of wall and ceiling. Coving is a simple, usually concave curve, while a cornice is generally more detailed, often with several bands of moulding or ornament. In everyday speech the words are often used interchangeably.
Is a ceiling rose the same as a ceiling medallion?
Yes. Both describe the decorative plaster piece that surrounds the point where a light hangs from the ceiling. Ceiling rose is the usual British term, while medallion is more common in the United States.
What is egg and dart moulding?
Egg and dart is a classical band of ornament in which oval egg shapes alternate with pointed dart or arrow shapes. It appears on cornices, ceiling roses and picture frames, and is often paired with bead and reel, a string of round beads separated by thin reels.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Curl, J.S. and Wilson, S. (2015) The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. 3rd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Summerson, J. (1980) The Classical Language of Architecture. Rev. edn. London: Thames & Hudson.
- Calloway, S. (ed.) (2005) The Elements of Style: An Encyclopedia of Domestic Architectural Detail. London: Mitchell Beazley.
- Beard, G. (1975) Decorative Plasterwork in Great Britain. London: Phaidon.
How to cite this article
Tire, G. (2026) ‘Cornice, coving or moulding? A plain-English glossary of plaster terms’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/cornice-coving-and-mouldings-glossary (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
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