Art deco, at the same time beige

previous facadenext facade
Dog Gargoyle on Facade: Animal Motif in Architectural Decoration

#4797. Dog Gargoyle on Facade: Animal Motif in Architectural Decoration

An interesting architectural detail — a sculptural image of a dog installed on the arched element of the facade. This is a typical example of architectural decoration in the grotesque or chimera style. The sculpture is made of stone in brownish-ochre tones, which harmonizes with the overall color of the building's facade.

Below the sculpture, there is a decorative ceramic strip with greenish relief ornament that frames the arch opening. The combination of the animal figure's plasticity with the geometry of the arch creates an interesting visual contrast. Such details are often found in Art Nouveau or Neo-Gothic architecture, where animal motifs were used as symbolic elements or simply as decorative accents.

The execution technique of the dog demonstrates a good understanding of sculptural form — the figure seems to hang from the cornice, creating a dynamic effect and playing with the facade space. This is an example of how small architectural details can give a building character and individuality.