In French decorative terminology, rococo is often described by which term?

• A. rocaile
• B. Wreath
• C. Scroll
• D. Intercolumnation

Answer: (A)

Rocaille is the French term that names the decorative vocabulary of Rococo, rooted in the shell-and-rock motifs heard in grotto ornament. This word captures the style’s hallmark: irregular, playful curves and naturalistic ornaments like shells, scrolls, and pebbled textures that sweep across surfaces. Because those motifs define Rococo design in French practice, rocaille (sometimes seen as rocailles in plural) is the descriptor you’d encounter in French decorative terminology.

The other options don’t carry that specific linguistic badge. A wreath suggests a circular garland motif often tied to classical ornament; a scroll is a common motif across many styles and isn’t unique to French Rococo terminology; intercolumnation deals with the spacing between columns, not the decorative vocabulary.