Discover a wealth of decorative ideas with this compendium of the most elegant patterns and ornaments in history. The World of Ornaments brings together the two largest encyclopedic collections of the 19th century on ornamentation: Auguste Racinet's L'Ornement polychrome Volumes I and II (1875-1888) and Auguste Dupont-Auberville's L'Ornement des tissus (1877). This lavish reference work covers jewelry, tiles, stained glass, illuminations, textiles, and ceramics. It includes designs from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Etruria, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as European patterns and fashions from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. This compilation serves as a reference and source of inspiration for artists, historians, designers, fashion designers, and anyone interested in ornamentation.