Basic shape : the fish egg shape

The fish egg shape is a simple shape in circle. if we manage it together it become a great support ornament for all main ornament.

Here is the shape:

The fish egg shape

If we combine the shape we get :

The fist egg shapes

this shape is famous for Cambodian as it is so simple and it is a great supporter. We use it to decor Cambodian temples, jewelry, daily amenities, etc :

 Fish egg shape on Angkor Wat’s wall

Basic Shape of ornament

The shape reference leaves, fruits, flowers, vines or animal. Here is some of fundamental shapes which ornaments take with some there are original object they are name after:

#1 The frontal Lotus petal shape

The frontal Lotus petal shape

#2 The Ficus religious leaf shape

The Ficus religious leaf shape or Budhi Tree shape

#3 The Lotus petal seen from the side shape shape

The lotus petal seen from the side shape

Cambodian ornament (in Khmer: Kbach Khmer)

Cambodian ornament (Kbach Khmer) was invented for more than thousand of years. We see them every ancient Khmer temples. The ornaments was took forms from natural elements then created to each unique ornament. Usually, it use for decorates buildings, furniture, jewelries, and other daily materials.

There are four main ornament families: Angkor ornament (Kbach Angkor), Phni Tes ornament (Kbach Phni Tes) ⁽¹⁾, Phni Voa ornament (Kbach Phni Voa)⁽²⁾  , and Phni Pleung ornament (Kbach Phni Pleung) ⁽³⁾. There are lots more minor ornaments such as the Fish Tooth ornament, the Fish Egg ornament, the Water Buffalo Tooth ornament, Chauk (Lotus) ornament or Dauk Chan ornament, Vong Hien ornament etc. Furthermore, there are many shapes to support these four main ornaments and created its own ornament such as the Frontal lotus petal shape, the Ficus Religiosa leaf shape, the Mythical goose tail shape, the Phni Tes shape, the Phni Pleung or flame shape, the Spine of the Neak shape, the Peel of the Bamboo stalk shape, the Fish Egg shape, the Hien or snail shape, the Vong Hien or Spiral snail shell shape, the fish tooth shape, the Water Buffalo tooth shape etc. 

(1) According to Headley’s Cambodian-English Dictionary (1977), Phni is a kind of flower or artistic design having intertwining vines. Tes is a name of flower.

(2)Voa =  vine

(3) Pleung = fire, flame

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