Ceiling rose
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In the United Kingdom and Australia, a ceiling rose is a decorative element affixed to the ceiling from which a chandelier or light fitting is often suspended. They are typically round in shape and display a variety of ornamental designs.
In modern British wiring setups, light fittings usually use loop-in ceiling roses, which also include the functionality of a junction box.
Etymology
The rose has symbolised secrecy since Roman times, due to a confused association with the Egyptian god Horus.[1] For its associations with ceilings and confidentiality, refer to the Scottish Government's Sub Rosa initiative.[2] Through its promise of secrecy, the rose, suspended above a meeting table, symbolises the freedom to speak plainly without repercussion. The physical carving of a rose on a ceiling was used for this purpose during the rule of England's Tudor King Henry VIII and has over the centuries evolved into a standard item of domestic vernacular architecture, to such an extent that it now constitutes a term for the aforementioned circular device that conceals and comprises the wiring box for an overhead light fitting.
See also
- Sub rosa
References
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