The Grammar of Ornament

work by Jones

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June 29, 2026

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The Grammar of Ornament is a seminal work by Owen Jones, an English designer, architect, and writer, published in 1856. This book is recognized as a standard reference that systematically presents both Eastern and Western design motifs. Jones emphasized the principles of color use and the logical application of design to everyday objects.1

The book draws from Jones's travels in the Near East and Spain, particularly his study of Islamic design, exemplified by his work on the Alhambra palace in Granada. Jones also contributed to architectural innovation, including the use of prefabricated metal buildings and his role in the design of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851.1

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Owen Jones
…Eastern and Western design motifs, The Grammar of Ornament (1856), which presented a systematic pictorial collection emphasizing both the use of colour and the application of logical principles to the design of everyday objects.
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…Eastern and Western design motifs, The Grammar of Ornament (1856), which presented a systematic pictorial collection emphasizing both the use of colour and the application of logical principles to the design of everyday objects.
Read More

graphic design
The Industrial Revolution and design technology
…of English designer Owen Jones’s The Grammar of Ornament, a methodical collection of design patterns and motifs that contained examples from Asian, African, and Western cultures. (Such explorations were consistent with the fascination with historicism and elaborate decoration found in architecture and product design during the Victorian era.)
Read More
…of English designer Owen Jones’s The Grammar of Ornament, a methodical collection of design patterns and motifs that contained examples from Asian, African, and Western cultures. (Such explorations were consistent with the fascination with historicism and elaborate decoration found in architecture and product design during the Victorian era.)
Read More