1: Sources of decoration -- Egyptian taste for decoration -- Decorative writing of hieroglyphs -- Origin of patterns -- Probability of copying -- Geometrical ornament -- Natural ornament -- Structural ornament -- Symbolic ornament -- 2: Geometrical decoration -- The line and the zigzag -- The spot -- The wave -- The spiral -- The continuous spiral -- Spiral surface patterns -- Quadruple spirals -- Frets -- Greek spirals -- Spiral borders -- Chequers -- Stitch patterns -- Circles -- 3: Natural decoration -- Feathers -- Rosettes -- Disc and spot patterns -- Lotus flower -- Lotus borders -- Lotus plant -- Lotus development -- Lotus, Assyrian and Greek -- Lotus with pendant -- Papyrus -- Lotus and papyrus columns -- The palm -- The vine -- The convolvulus -- The thistle -- Garlands -- Captives -- The ibex -- Birds -- Stars -- Graining and marbling -- 4: Structural decoration -- Structural forms surviving -- Rope pattern -- Basket-work -- Wooden framing -- Panelling -- Sloping walls -- Torus roll -- Palm cornice -- Papyrus cornice -- Binding patterns -- 5: Symbolic decoration -- The uraeus -- The disc and wings -- The horns -- The vulture -- The scarab -- The lion -- The goddess Maat -- The goddess Hathor -- The God bes -- Hieroglyph symbols -- Captives