September, 1919 
31 
The six filigree medal¬ 
lion tiles represent the 
signs of the constella¬ 
tions and can be used 
for floor or wall deco¬ 
ration. Designed and 
executed by Henry 
Chapman Mercer 
Styles of Execution 
According to the special nature of 
the medium employed, if they 
be wrought in relief, they 
may be acceptably executed 
in carved wood or stone or 
modelled in parge or plaster. 
They may also be depicted 
either in polychrome or in 
monochrome on glass. They 
may even be executed in lead¬ 
ing. In any of these forms 
A set of zodiac 
tiles for floor 
decoration 
Designed by 
Henry Chapman 
Mercer, Esq. 
The signs of the zodiac 
in these panels are 
drawn from old Roman 
motifs found in a vol¬ 
ume published about 
1775. They show an 
elaboration of the sym¬ 
bols 
or tile floors. In such cases they may 
be readily and effectively applied as 
metal inserts or else wrought in stone 
of a different and sufficiently con¬ 
trasting color from the surrounding 
ground. 
When we come to walls the flat sur¬ 
faces offer an unparalleled opportunity 
for successful presentation with any 
degree of elaboration desired. Used 
either as a continuous series of fres¬ 
coes in polychrome or monochrome 
treatment or as overmantel or overdoor 
concentrated spots of decoration they 
are comparable to maps employed in 
the same way. Indeed, the zodiac 
signs and their accompanying ground 
are really maps of the heavens. 
the signs of the zodiac supply effective 
and appropriate bits of decoration for 
the windows of libraries or halls. 
On ceilings the signs of the zodiac 
are especially suitable as subjects for 
either medallion or panel treatment or, 
again, they may be worked into a 
series of medallions for cornice or 
frieze or given expression as a con¬ 
tinuous design. For ceiling and cor¬ 
nice alike they may be done either in 
the flat or in relief. 
Other places where the signs of the 
zodiac are especially desirable as dec¬ 
orations are in connection with sun¬ 
dials, clock faces and large barometers. 
Metal clock faces and sun-dials par¬ 
ticularly may be given great interest 
by engraved zodiac symbols to which 
may be added the further embellish¬ 
ment and emphasis of color. 
All during the Middle 
Ages and the Renaissance 
frequent use was made of 
the signs of the zodiac for 
decorative purposes. They 
were painted or carved on 
walls, molded in parge, en¬ 
graved on metal, or appeared 
in windows of colored 
glass. 
