ogee

Ogee refers to an S-shaped curve formed by the combination of two circular arcs, one concave and one convex, meeting at a point. The curve is typically symmetric about its midpoint and is used as a decorative profile in architecture and design. The term derives from the French ogee, and in English it usually describes the profile of moldings, arches, and other ornamental elements rather than a strict mathematical curve.

In architecture, ogee profiles appear in moldings, cornices, glazing beads, and door surrounds. An ogee arch uses two successive curves that bend in opposite directions, creating a distinctive elongated, pointed silhouette. This arch is associated with various historic styles, including Gothic and Baroque variations, and is prized for its decorative fluidity as opposed to a simple pointed arch.

Beyond architecture, ogee profiles are common in furniture and metalwork, where they decorate edges on tabletops, picture frames, and mirror frames. They also appear in glassmaking and ceramics as rims or edges. In mathematics and design discourse, the ogee is treated as a descriptive curve rather than a conic section, and it can be approximated by paired circular arcs. The term is sometimes confused with ogive, which more often refers to a pointed arch or projectile shape.