This interesting collection of ornaments comes to us from the Balkan Peninsula and contains 22 Serbian medieval ornaments.

They date from the Middle Ages and most were found in paintings of various churches and monasteries from that time. The collection includes 6 circular ornaments (rosettes), one circular border, 2 repeating ornaments and 13 friezes. In Serbian monasteries and churches, the circular ornaments or rosettes were carved out of stone and mostly found above the doors. The friezes that can be seen here represent either stonecuts found around the doors or painted friezes found inside the churches. As you can see, there are no rectangular or square ornaments in the collection, which is simply explained by the fact that in Orthodox/  Serbian monasteries and churches, the rectangular surfaces were mostly decorated with frescoes and icons.

 

Serbian medieval ornaments
Available file formats

The ornaments are available in 2D CAD (.dwg) and vector (.svg and .eps) file formats. Each file is individually tested.

If you look at these ornaments, you will see that they are mostly interlaced ornaments (in Serbian pletenice or prepleti) that are combined with various floral forms. They are very reminiscent of Byzantine ornaments, which is not surprising since the Serbs were initially under the cultural influence of the then powerful Byzantine Empire. It is interesting for Serbian interlaced ornaments (and this can be said for interlaced ornaments of other Slavic Balkan peoples as well) that they do not consist of only one strip, but that several parallel strips (usually 2 or 3) are wattled on them.

You can clearly see that these ornaments are very well drawn, interesting and beautiful, so feel free to use them for various projects of yours whose theme is the Balkans, Balkan Slavic peoples, Byzantium or Orthodoxy.

 

Download DWG 2D CAD file format
Download EPS vector file format
Download SVG vector file format

Submitted by Ceh Jan

 

Vector tags

Vector collectionsDesign elementsGeometricStencilsRound designsRectangular designsFramesSquare designsHistoryHumanBook decorationsArchitectural patternsGrotesques & creaturesFrieze patternsMammalsSilhouettesLeaves & treesBirdsScrollsSymbolsFurnitureTessellation patternsFlowersObjectsCorner designsInsectsFamous peopleSignsTiles and mosaicsLions & catsLattice patternsPalmette (Anthemion)HeraldicMathematical patternsRenaissanceWomenStained glass patternsArch-shaped designsShieldsRibbonsMoulding profiles