Editing Volute (section)

{{Short description|Spiral scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order}}
{{Other uses}}
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[[Image:SixIonicOrders.jpg|right|thumb|Examples of Ionic volutes. From Julien David LeRoy, ''Les ruines plus beaux des monuments de la Grèce'', Paris, 1758 (Plate XX)]]
A '''volute''' is a spiral, scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the [[Ionic order]], found in the [[Capital (architecture)|capital]] of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into [[Corinthian order]] and [[Composite order|Composite]] column capitals. Four are normally to be found on an Ionic capital, eight on Composite capitals and smaller versions (sometimes called ''helix'') on the Corinthian capital.<ref>"Volute". ''A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture''. James Stevens Curl. Oxford University Press, 2006</ref>

The word derives from the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''voluta'' ("scroll"). It has been suggested that the ornament was inspired by the curve of a [[Sheep|ram]]'s horns, or perhaps was derived from the natural spiral found in the [[ovule]] of a common species of [[clover]] native to [[Greece]]. Alternatively, it may simply be of [[geometry|geometrical]] origin.<ref>"Volute". ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology''. Timothy Darvill. Oxford University Press, 2002</ref>

The ornament can be seen in [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] and [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] architecture and is a common decoration in furniture design, silverware and ceramics. A method of drawing the complex geometry was devised by the ancient [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] architect [[Vitruvius]] through the study of classical buildings and structures.