egg-and-dart

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egg-and-dart. Classical ornament on convex rounded mouldings (such as the echinus or other ovolos) consisting of a series of vertical oviform elements (with their tops cut off) surrounded by a groove and raised rim, between which rims are inserted, one between each pair of ‘eggs’, a sharply pointed dart-like or anchor form, sometimes resembling a tongue. Thus the egg and dart alternate in series. Also called, depending on the shape of the ‘dart’, egg-and-anchor, egg-and-tongue, or nut-and-husk.