(pronounced FIH-nee-ehl)

A decorative element or detail that sits atop something, crowning it. In traditional architecture, it’s an ornament on top of a peak of an arch or arched structure – a pinnacle or spire, for example. The material can be metal, stone, wood, etc. In the decorative arts and furniture design, though, a finial describes a decorative piece – composed of stone, wood, metal, porcelain, plaster, etc. – that finishes off a piece such as a lamp, clock, etc.