Margent

Margent is a vertical arrangement of flowers, leaves or hanging vines used as a decorative ornament in architecture and furniture design in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

This motif was developed as a complement to other decorative ornaments, hanging as "drops" at the ends of a festoon or swag.

Also used to accentuate the vertical lines of window frames and centered in ornamental panels.

Shakespeare uses the word in Act II, Scene I of A Midsummer Night's Dream: These are the forgeries of jealousy And never, since the middle summer's spring, Met we on hill, in dale, forest or mead, By paved fountain or by rushy brook, Or in the beached margent of the sea, To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our sport.

Beached Margent of the Sea is also the name of a painting by Canadian artist, F.M.