De Ferranti Glossary: "Egg-and-dart"

Glossary: E

Egg-and-dart
Egg-and-dart is an ornamental device often carved in wood, stone, or plaster quarter-round ovolo mouldings, consisting of an egg-shaped object alternating with an element shaped like an arrow, anchor or dart. Egg-and-dart enrichment of the ovolo molding of the Ionic capital is found in Ancient Greek architecture at the Erechtheion and was used by the Romans. Its ovoid shape (the egg) and serrated leaf (the dart) are believed to represent the opium poppy and its leaves.

This design motif has been common in the classical architecture of Europe since the Renaissance.