672 Motifs for Furnishings & Architecture

This is a list of topics you can roll on to determine how something is decorated. Use this for rugs, tapestries, paintings, carved boxes, carved doors and doorways, statues, mosaics, etc.

Often, you’ll find you want multiple examples of the same motif for an item or a group of items; just choose all you need from the motif you rolled in the first place.

Note that “posing” means not doing anything in particular; just posed nobly for the artist, usually gazing off into the distance.

1. Scenes

Roll 1d20.

Agricultural… (1d6: 1=peasants harvesting grain; 2=peasants threshing grain; 3=miller milling grain into flour; 4=brewer brewing beer; 5=drover driving sheep to market; 6=drover driving pigs to market).
Hunting… (1d6: 1=shepherd hunting a wolf; 2=peasants hunting rabbits; 3=dog hunting rats; 4=dogs hunting a fox; 5=nobles hunting a boar; 6=nobles hunting a deer).
Dramatic… (1d6: 1=maiden chained to a rock as a sacrifice; 2=woman lying deathly ill, surrounded by family; 3=an outlaw at the gallows; 4=children menaced by a wolf; 5=children menaced by an evil witch; 6=small dog menaced by a wolf).
Heroic… (1d6: 1=warrior fighting a serpent; 2=warrior fighting a horde of goblins; 3=cleric turning a horde of undead; 4=wizard casting a spell on orcs; 5=father saving a drowning child; 6=mother rescuing her child from wolves).
Island… (1d6: 1=sunny and tropical; 2=moonlit; 3=wave-pounded; 4=bird’s eye view; 5=fishermen in boats; 6=pirates with treasure).
Lake… (1d6: 1=with fishermen; 2=with boaters; 3=with bathers; 4=with laundresses; 5=with ice skaters; 6=with ice cutters).
Landscape… (1d6: 1=woodland; 2=moorland; 3=hills; 4=mountains; 5=road thru hills; 6=road thru mountains).
Lighthouse… (1d6: 1=day, calm seas; 2=night, calm seas; 3=guiding a ship thru a storm at night; 4=day, storm-tossed; 5=twilight, gathering stormclouds; 6=ruined).
Martial… (1d6: 1=great king in battle; 2=great king on a horse; 3=great king on a winged-horse; 4=great nobleman in battle; 5=great nobleman on horse; 6=great nobleman on a griffon).
Mythical… (1d6: 1=maiden supplicating to an old god; 2=two old gods locked in combat; 3=old goddess blessing a ship; 4=old god blessing a hero; 5=old god fighting a great serpent; 6=old god taming the sea).
Nobles… (1d6: 1=in council; 2=at court; 3=at a tournament; 4=dining; 5=playing a game; 6=engaged in falconry).
Nautical… (1d6: 1=ship on the ocean; 2=ship in a storm; 3=ships in a bay; 4=ship anchored off an island; 5=ship attacked by sea serpent; 6=ship attacked by giant octopus).
Pastoral… (1d6: 1=maiden visiting with a shepherd and his dog; 2=shepherd tending sheep; 3=boy tending cattle in a pasture; 4=a bull and cows in a pasture; 5=a ram and sheep in a pasture; 6=hogs foraging for nuts in a woods).
Reverie… (1d6: 1=peasants at a fair; 2=minstrels at a fair; 3=drunken patrons at a tavern; 4=celebrants at a religious ceremony; 5=knights at a tournament; 6=nobles at a ball).
Seascape… (1d6: 1=waves on a sandy beach; 2=waves on a sandy beach; 3=wave-pounded rocks; 4=storm at sea; 5=moon over the ocean; 6=sunrise/set over the ocean).
Craftsmen at work… (1d6: 1=butcher and son; 2=carpenter and apprentice; 3=weavers; 4=fullers; 5=luthier and apprentice; 6=leatherman and apprentice).
Tradesmen at work… (1d6: 1=butcher and son; 2=joiners; 3=builders; 4=thatchers; 5=bricklayers; 6=masons).
Pilgrims… (1d6: 1=traveling on a road; 2=approaching a pilgrimage site; 3=touring a pilgrimage site; 4=at a religious service; 5=at a hospital; 6=at an inn).
Religious… (1d6: 1=popular deity in repose; 2=popular deity in battle; 3=obscure deity in repose; 4=obscure deity in battle; 5=popular deity and obscure deity in discussion; 6=popular deity and obscure deity in battle).
Underworld… (1d6: 1=woman’s soul being led away from her body by Death; 2=woman’s soul being led down to the underworld; 3=woman’s soul crossing the River of Departure; 4=woman’s soul resting among the other dead; 5=woman’s soul drinking from the River of Forgetfulness; 6=husband retrieving his wife’s soul from the underworld).

2. Figures

Roll 1d20.

Archer… (1d6: 1=seated on a log; 2=stringing a bow; 3=shooting a bow; 4=sleeping; 5=retrieving game; 6=setting a target).
Athlete… (1d6: 1=seated on a log; 2=with a discus; 3=with a ball; 4=running; 5=lifting a weight; 6=leaping).
Apothecary… (1d6: 1=looking over ingredients; 2=brewing a potion; 3=examining a creature’s carcass; 4=weighing ingredients; 5=reading; 6=posing).
Blacksmith… (1d6: 1=at the forge; 2=hammering iron; 3=fitting a rim to a carriage wheel; 4=shaping a horseshoe; 5=quenching a horseshoe; 6=shoeing a horse).
Carpenter… (1d6: 1=contemplating a piece of wood; 2=working a piece of wood on the bench; 3=shaping a table leg; 4=assembling a coffer; 5=measuring a piece of wood; 6=polishing a finished coffer).
Child, boy… (1d6: 1=seated on a log; 2=drawing water from a well; 3=petting a dog; 4=sleeping; 5=playing with a top; 6=tending a piglet).
Child, girl… (1d6: 1=seated on a log; 2=toying with a drop spindle; 3=playing with a doll; 4=sleeping; 5=churning butter; 6=tending a lamb).
Cleric… (1d6: 1=in prayer; 2=reading; 3=posing; 4=gardening; 5=polishing sacred treasures; 6=drawing water from a well).
Dancer… (1d6: 1=seated on a stool; 2=posing with leg raised; 3=posing with arms out; 4=sleeping; 5=spinning; 6=leaping).
Lady… (1d6: 1=seated, combing her hair; 2=bathing; 3=lounging on a couch; 4=reading; 5=playing with a bird; 6=petting a lap dog).
Knight… (1d6: 1=instructing a squire; 2=in prayer; 3=donning armor; 4=posed with a horse; 5=striding into battle; 6=with the head of a monster).
Luthier… (1d6: 1=contemplating a block of wood; 2=shaping a lute body; 3=shaping a violin body; 4=assembling a lute; 5=assembling a violin; 6=testing a new lute).
Milkmaid… (1d6: 1=seated on a stool; 2=walking with an empty pail; 3=walking with a full pail; 4=standing with a cow; 5=milking a cow; 6=standing over a spilled pail).
Minstrel… (1d6: 1=with a lute; 2=with a violin; 3=with pipes; 4=with a flute; 5=with a drum; 6=with a horn).
Monk… (1d6: 1=copying a book; 2=reading; 3=in prayer; 4=posing; 5=drinking wine; 6=drawing water from a well).
Sailor… (1d6: 1=seated, tying a knot; 2=swabbing the deck; 3=scanning the horizon; 4=climbing the rigging; 5=whittling a piece of wood; 6=posing).
Traveler… (1d6: 1=seated on a log; 2=surveying the land; 3=seating on a rock, adjusting a shoe; 4=crossing a stream; 5=fording a river; 6=standing on a rock, overlooking the land).
Noble/royal… (1d6: 1=surveying the land; 2=reading; 3=with a lap dog; 4=hunting; 5=in armor; 6=posing with a book at a table).
Witch… (1d6: 1=stroking a familiar; 2=studying a tome; 3=casting a hex; 4=brewing a potion; 5=performing a ritual in a summoning circle; 6=posing).
Wizard… (1d6: 1=copying a book; 2=studying a tome; 3=casting a spell; 4=looking over material components; 5=instructing an apprentice; 6=stroking a familiar).

3. Creatures

Roll 1d20.

“Rampant” means standing on three legs, with one raised. “Rearing” means up on hind legs.

Bear… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=rampant; 3=lying down; 4=walking; 5=drinking from a pool; 6=rearing).
Bird… (1d6: 1=songbird; 2=falcon; 3=parrot; 4=owl; 5=peacock; 6=eagle).
Bird… (1d6: 1=heron/stork; 2=goose/swan; 3=partridge; 4=duck; 5=dove/pigeon; 6=crow/raven).
Bull… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=rampant; 3=lying down; 4=walking; 5=drinking from a pool; 6=rearing).
Dragon… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=rampant; 3=lying down; 4=walking; 5=drinking from a pool; 6=in flight).
Fairy… (1d6: 1=playing music; 2=dancing; 3=drinking dew drops; 4=making fairy bread; 5=sitting on a toadstool; 6=hiding in underbrush).
Fish… (1d6: 1=straight; 2=curled; 3=leaping; 4=twisted; 5=two entwined; 6=leaping).
Ghost… (1d6: 1=haunting a graveyard; 2=floating over water; 3=haunting a castle; 4=haunting a wood; 5=haunting a manor house; 6=haunting a ruin).
Giant… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=with a tree-trunk club; 3=with a sword; 4=sleeping; 5=carrying off a sheep under each arm; 6=dead at the feet of a hero).
Griffon… (1d6: 1=carrying off a struggling sheep; 2=locked in combat with another flying creature; 3=diving on prey; 4=drinking from in pool; 5=bathing in a pool; 6=tending its nest).
Head only… (1d6: 1=demon; 2=orc; 3=goat; 4=dragon; 5=unicorn; 6=horse).
Horse… (1d6: 1=posing; 2=drawing a carriage; 3=rearing; 4=running a race; 5=with a foal; 6=bucking).
Leopard… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=rampant; 3=lying down; 4=walking; 5=drinking from a pool; 6=stalking prey).
Lion… (1d6: 1=lying down; 2=stalking prey; 3=rampant; 4=defending its territory from another; 5=seated; 6=lying harmlessly with a lamb).
Miscellany… (1d6: 1=phoenix arising from ashes; 2=cockatrice walking; 3=bear rampant; 4=sea-lion rampant; 5=camel walking; 6=elephant walking).
Goat/ram… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=standing; 3=lying down; 4=walking; 5=head-butting; 6=leaping).
Serpent… (1d6: 1=straight; 2=curled; 3=leaping; 4=twisted; 5=two entwined; 6=leaping).
Stag/unicorn… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=rampant; 3=lying down; 4=walking; 5=drinking from a pool; 6=leaping).
Whale… (1d6: 1=swimming with others; 2=with a whale calf; 3=captured and being used to pull a ship; 4=breaching and blowing; 5=swamping a boat; 6=being harpooned).
Winged horse… (1d6: 1=seated; 2=rampant; 3=lying down; 4=walking; 5=drinking from a pool; 6=in flight).

4. Plants

Roll 1d10.

Magical tree… (1d6: 1=treant; 2=hanging tree; 3=haunted oak; 4=fairy treehouse; 5=elven treehouse; 6=the ur-tree).
Evergreen tree… (1d6: 1=spruce; 2=cedar; 3=pine; 4=fir; 5=juniper; 6=yew).
Fruit tree… (1d6: 1=lemon; 2=lime; 3=apple; 4=pear; 5=cherry; 6=peach).
Broad-leafed tree… (1d6: 1=ancient; 2=gnarled; 3=bent; 4=forked; 5=straight; 6=mighty). See “leaves” to roll for type.
Leaves… (1d6: 1=oak; 2=cherry; 3=maple; 4=birch; 5=willow; 6=chestnut).
Flowers… (1d6: 1=daisies; 2=lilies; 3=roses; 4=buttercups; 5=tulips; 6=carnations).
Nuts… (1d6: 1=walnuts; 2=acorns; 3=almonds; 4=cashews; 5=chestnuts; 6=hazel nuts).
Still life spread… (1d6: 1=fruit in a bowl; 2=fruit in a cornucopia; 3=tarts; 4=melons; 5=cheeses; 6=breads).
Orchard… (1d6: 1=maidens gathering fruit; 2=children gathering fruit; 3=peasants pruning trees; 4=lovers; 5=a duel between nobles; 6=shadowy monster on the prowl).
Miscellaneous… (1d6: 1=clover; 2=ear of wheat; 3=acanthus leaves; 4=potted plant; 5=thorn; 6=thistle).

5. Abstract

Roll 1d12.

Circles… (1d6: 1=filled, small; 2=filled, large; 3=hollow, small; 4=hollow, large; 5=hollow, concentric; 6=filled, various sizes, overlapping).
Triangles… (1d6: 1=filled, small; 2=filled, large; 3=hollow, small; 4=hollow, large; 5=hollow, concentric; 6=filled, various sizes, overlapping).
Squares… (1d6: 1=filled, small; 2=filled, large; 3=hollow, small; 4=hollow, large; 5=hollow, concentric; 6=filled, various sizes, overlapping).
Geometric trails/borders… (1d6: 1=dentil; 2=chevrons; 3=basket weave; 4=waves; 5=shells; 6=egg & dart).
Arrows… (1d6: 1=small; 2=large; 3=crossed; 4=bent; 5=arced; 6=circular).
Ribbons… (1d6: 1=curled; 2=flat; 3=arced; 4=twisted; 5=overlapping; 6=braided).
Spirals… (1d6: 1=single spiral; 2=nautilus; 3=triskelion; 4=irregular; 5=angular; 6=tangled).
Swirls… (1d6: 1=curls; 2=swooshes; 3=arcs; 4=twists; 5=overlapping; 6=waves).
Stars… (1d6: 1=three points; 2=four points; 3=five points; 4=six points; 5=seven points; 6=starburst).
Suns… (1d6: 1=face, with rays; 2=face, without rays; 3=no face, with rays; 4=no face, without rays; 5=with the crescent moon; 6=as a radiant lion).
Chain… (1d6: 1=with thick links; 2=with delicate links; 3=of hearts; 4=of flowers; 5=of braids; 6=knots).
Vines… (1d6: 1=with little flowers; 2=with thorns; 3=with grape tendrils; 4=with leaves; 5=with nuts; 6=with fruits).

6. Structures

Roll 1d20.

Images of structures in art often depict actual locations and specific stories from their past.

Castle… (1d6: 1=on a hill, day; 2=on a mountain, day; 3=on a hill, night; 4=on a mountain, night; 5=under siege; 6=hosting a coronation).
Cathedral… (1d6: 1=hosting pilgrims; 2=during a celebration; 3=hosting a coronation; 4=under construction; 5=on fire; 6=in ruins).
City… (1d6: 1=on a hill; 2=with canals; 3=on an island; 4=with a citadel; 5=with a cathedral; 6=with a harbor).
Church… (1d6: 1=under construction; 2=during a celebration; 3=during a funeral; 4=during a market day in the churchyard; 5=on fire; 6=in ruins).
Dwarven mountain hall… (1d6: 1=under construction; 2=standing proud; 3=hosting a royal wedding; 4=hosting a coronation; 5=under siege; 6=in ruins).
Elven tree town… (1d6: 1=full of elves; 2=multiple, interconnected by bridges; 3=in full leaf; 4=bare in winter; 5=dead and abandoned; 6=on fire).
Fountain… (1d6: 1=simple; 2=modest; 3=grand; 4=magical; 5=spouting wine; 6=spouting blood).
Garden… (1d6: 1=maiden with unicorn; 2=maidens with dogs; 3=children with dogs; 4=lovers; 5=a duel between nobles; 6=shadowy monster on the prowl).
Miscellaneous… (1d6: 1=cottage; 2=ancient villa; 3=brew house; 4=windmill; 5=water mill; 6=guild hall).
Manor house… (1d6: 1=surrounded by village; 2=hosting a festival; 3=hosting games; 4=hosting an execution; 5=under siege; 6=in ruins).
Marketplace… (1d6: 1=with booths; 2=on the ground; 3=with livestock; 4=with goods pile high; 5=hosting an execution; 6=depicting a slave sale).
Monastery… (1d6: 1=surrounded by village; 2=hosting pilgrims; 3=hosting games; 4=hosting an execution of a witch; 5=on a holy day; 6=under siege).
Peasants with a fruit press making… (1d6: 1=apple cider; 2=beer; 3=wine; 4=pear wine; 5=pomegranate wine; 6=mead).
Pagan temple… (1d6: 1=under construction; 2=during a celebration; 3=during a funeral; 4=during a sacrifice; 5=on fire; 6=in ruins).
Palace… (1d6: 1=imperial; 2=royal; 3=religious; 4=foreign; 5=celestial; 6=infernal).
Portal… (1d6: 1=being activated; 2=adventurers stepping thru; 3=allowing a demon thru; 4=allowing a monster thru; 5=overgrown; 6=in ruins).
Tower… (1d6: 1=clock; 2=bell; 3=watch; 4=fallen; 5=castle; 6=wizard’s).
Town… (1d6: 1=on a hill; 2=in a valley; 3=on an island; 4=on the coast; 5=on a lake; 6=hosting a fair).
University… (1d6: 1=surrounded by village; 2=under construction; 3=hosting games; 4=menaced by shadowy monsters; 5=duel between wizards; 6=under siege).
Village… (1d6: 1=in spring; 2=in summer; 3=in autumn; 4=in winter; 5=on a holy day; 6=during a celebration).

Bonus: Unusual

Roll 1d10.

Armor… (1d6: 1=shields; 2=breastplates; 3=mail shirts; 4=helmets; 5=bucklers; 6=gauntlets).
Arms… (1d6: 1=daggers; 2=swords; 3=maces; 4=axes; 5=crossed swords; 6=shield & sword).
Death… (1d6: 1=skulls; 2=bones; 3=crossed bones; 4=skull & crossbones; 5=skull & spine; 6=skeletal hands).
Domestic… (1d6: 1=shoes; 2=gloves; 3=tools; 4=cooking utensils; 5=belts; 6=cloaks).
Gargoyle… (1d6: 1=grinning; 2=gaping; 3=roaring; 4=clawing; 5=on the wing; 6=pooping).
Hares… (1d6: 1=in armor; 2=with swords; 3=with bows; 4=with axes; 5=with lyres; 6=with lutes).
Hearts… (1d6: 1=in a row; 2=alternating upside-down; 3=entwined; 4=hollow; 5=filled; 6=pierced by arrows).
Music… (1d6: 1=musical notes; 2=notes on a staff; 3=notes on a staff with lyrics; 4=notes on a staff with instruments; 5=notes floating around animals playing musical instruments; 6=musical notes and stars).
Musical… (1d6: 1=harp/lyre; 2=panpipes; 3=lute; 4=flute; 5=trumpet; 6=violin).
Shells… (1d6: 1=empty; 2=with pearls; 3=with mermaids; 4=with fish; 5=with maidens; 6=back side).