Pendant
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Pendant
Pendant is a decorative element that hangs freely, typically suspended from a chain, cord, or other supporting structure, serving both ornamental and functional purposes in design. This versatile design element has evolved significantly throughout history, from ancient civilizations where pendants were crafted as talismans and status symbols, to contemporary applications in jewelry, lighting, and architectural ornamentation. In architectural and interior design contexts, pendants often manifest as suspended lighting fixtures or decorative elements that create visual interest and establish focal points within spaces. The design principles governing pendant creation encompass considerations of balance, proportion, and visual weight, as the object must maintain aesthetic appeal while suspended in space. Materials used in pendant design range from precious metals and gemstones in jewelry applications to glass, metal, wood, and synthetic materials in larger-scale architectural implementations. The aesthetic impact of pendants is particularly notable in lighting design, where they can dramatically influence spatial atmosphere through both their physical form and the patterns of light they cast. Contemporary pendant design often incorporates sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies, particularly in lighting applications, reflecting modern environmental consciousness. The A' Design Award competition regularly recognizes innovative pendant designs in various categories, including jewelry design and lighting design, highlighting the continuing evolution and importance of this design element in multiple disciplines. The versatility of pendants in design is demonstrated through their ability to serve as standalone artistic statements or integrate into larger design schemes, making them valuable tools for designers seeking to create visual hierarchy and aesthetic interest in their work.
ornamental design, suspended element, decorative accessory, architectural detail, jewelry component, lighting fixture, hanging embellishment
Pendant
A pendant is a decorative object that is suspended from a chain or cord and worn around the neck as a piece of jewelry. It can be made from a variety of materials, including precious metals, gemstones, glass, wood, and plastic. Pendants come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from small and delicate to large and ornate. They can be simple and understated, or elaborate and intricate, depending on the style and design of the pendant. Pendants have been worn for centuries, and have been used for a variety of purposes. In some cultures, pendants were believed to have magical or spiritual properties, and were worn as talismans or amulets for protection or good luck. In other cultures, pendants were worn as symbols of status or wealth, and were often adorned with precious stones or metals. Today, pendants are worn for a variety of reasons, including fashion, personal expression, and sentimental value. One of the most popular types of pendants is the locket, which is a small, hinged pendant that opens to reveal a space for a photograph or other small object. Lockets have been used for centuries as a way to keep loved ones close, and are often passed down through generations as family heirlooms. Other popular pendant styles include crosses, hearts, animals, and geometric shapes.
jewelry, necklace, locket, talisman, amulet
Pendant
A pendant, in the context of architecture, can be defined as an architectural element, typically ornamental in nature, that hangs below the ceiling in a room or space. Pendants are often used to add visual interest to an area, providing a decorative touch to the interior design of a space. Pendants may be made of a wide variety of materials, including metals, glass, ceramics, and fabric, and may come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They may also be illuminated or non-illuminated. Pendants often serve both aesthetic and functional purposes, providing task lighting or accent lighting, highlighting a painting or sculpture, or adding a touch of color to a room.
Ceiling, Lighting, Ornamental, Interior Design, Room.
Pendant
Masonry pendants, also known as corbels, are architectural features that protrude from the face of a wall, providing an aesthetic and structural anchor point. They are usually formed from brick, stone, or concrete, and can vary in size and shape depending on the style of the building. Pendants are often used to support an archway, window, or door frame, but they can also be used as decorative elements. For instance, they can be used to create a balcony, bracket, or shelf. In addition to providing structural support, pendants can also be used to add visual interest to a wall, providing texture, color, and depth.
Material, Shape, Design, Dimension, Aesthetics.
CITATION : "Shelly Stone. 'Pendant.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=234704 (Accessed on June 04, 2025)"
Pendant
The word “pendant” is defined as an ornament or small piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck. It derives from the French verb “pendre” which means “to hang”. From this definition, it is possible to identify equivalent words for “pendant” in other languages. For example, in Spanish, the word “colgante” can be used as a synonym for “pendant”, while in German, “Anhänger” can be used. In Portuguese, “pendente” and in Italian, “pendente” can be used to refer to the same piece of jewelry. Similar words in other languages include “pendeloque” in French, “pendentivo” in Catalan, “pendentif” in Dutch, “pendel” in Danish, “pendente” in Galician, “pendel” in Norwegian, “väska” in Swedish, “pendante” in Occitan, “суставник” in Bulgarian and “ωαστίδιο” in Greek. It is also possible to find equivalent words for “pendant” in other Asian language, such as “吊墜” in Chinese, “垂らす” in Japanese and “소장” in Korean.
colgante, anhänger, pendente, pendeloque, pendentivo, pendentif, pendel, väska, pendente, суставник, ωαστίδιο, 吊墜, 垂らす, 소장
Pendant
Pendant can be classified as a noun and a verb. Synonyms of pendant include ornament, trinket, charm and adornment, while antonyms may be plain, bare, and unadorned. Cognates of this word come from French and Latin, such as pendans, pendare, pendere and pendulo. Variants of this word include pendent, pendants, pendantes and pendente, as well as pended and pencil.
Etymology, morphology, related words, meaning, synonyms, antonyms, variants, cognates, phraseology, linguistic analysis, sentence structure.
Pendant
The word pendant is rooted in the Old French term pendance or pendaunt, which was derived from the Latin verb pendere meaning to hang. This describes the physical action of hanging, as seen in objects such as earrings, necklaces, and other decorations. The English word pendant has become an important part of our modern lexicon, describing any object that is suspended and hangs from a fixed point. In semantics, it is known as a synecdoche, referring to a single, interconnected part of a whole. The word has also been used in a more figurative sense, to describe someone who serves in a dependent capacity to another, e.g. a minister who is an assistant to a bishop or a vassal to a lord. Morphologically, the term remains unaltered in most cases, taking the form of pendant, although there are some regional variations in spelling, such as the French pendentif, or the German Pendel. Pragmatically, the word has a number of different applications and meanings, depending on the context in which it is used.
Etymology, Morphology, Pendant, Pragmatics, Latin, Old French, Synecdoche, Hanging, Variation, Spelling.
Pendant
A pendant is an image composition technique that is used within anime, comics or manga to draw character attire around the neck within a visual work. It is often used to emphasize the character’s personality and/or profession, and to signify a certain element of fashion within the scene. A pendant can be anything from a simple piece of jewelry, to an emblem that the character wears, to a magical object that symbolizes the character’s story. In some cases, it can even represent an object that is important to the character or a part of the story.
Anime pendant, manga pendant, character adornment, necklace, locket, amulet, symbol, story element.
Pendant on Design+Encyclopedia
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