Egg and Dart Coving

The egg and dart motif, like so many other elements of plaster cornice design, was first seen in the carved stone of the temples and buildings of ancient Greece and Rome.

Prior to Victorian times, the individual elements of more complicated cornices, had to be moulded separately and then assembled in situ, often onto a base moulded directly onto the ceiling using liquid plaster.

Improvements in mould-making during the Victorian period meant complex cornices many featuring the egg and dart design could now be made in lengths, using a bench mounted mould. Once dry they were then transported to site and fixed to the ceiling, in the same way as we still do today.

As a result, the price of cornicing dropped, and it became widely adopted during the Victorian period.

More About Egg & Dart Cornice

The egg and dart design appeared in many different guises. Cornices such as SPCO2O and SPCO22 feature plain egg and dart motifs, both are also relatively small cornices making them ideal for the upstairs rooms of period houses, where the ceilings tend to be lower. Or for some more modern properties, again, where ceilings are often lower.

The egg and dart motif also appears in some of our grandest cornices, such as LPC019, where it features in a finely modelled composition of Acanthus leaves with modilion blocks, suitable for the grandest houses with the highest ceilings.

The Egg & Dart design also features on a number of our plaster ceiling roses, such as LPR003 and MPR004. Two sizes of the same design featuring the Egg and Dart design combined with Acanthus leaves.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can I have delivery?

We use our own vans and drivers to deliver coving. Our products are fragile and need to be handled carefully. Using our own transport ensures your coving arrives in good condition and customers are kept up to date with progress on the day of delivery. We deliver to the vast majority of the UK within five working days, often sooner. If you live in an isolated area, deliveries will be less frequent than somewhere like the centre of London, where we have multiple vans every day. If you have an urgent delivery requirement, please call our customer services team on 0333 043 1471, who will be able to tell you our latest delivery schedules. Alternatively, you can check our nationwide UK coving delivery index for typical delivery times to your area.

How is your coving priced?

The price quoted is per metre and includes VAT. Please note the price is not per length: just enter the number of metres you need and we will work it out to the nearest length.

Can you recommend a fitter?

Yes, we have good links with professional cornice fitters throughout the country and are able to recommend tradesmen in most areas. Please call 0333 043 1471 for details.

Do you sell matching ceiling roses?

Yes, we have a range of Victorian plaster ceiling roses from the plain to the highly ornate. We also have a range of original Victorian timber skirting boards and architraves, which are increasingly difficult to find these days.