Towers with Golden Orbs. Motif of Cupolaed Spires with Spherical Supports

The article is devoted to the hitherto overlooked architectural motif of spherical supports in tower spires, observed in northern Europe since the early 17th century. Probably derived from the obelisk ball-based motif popular in iconography. It first appeared within the spire of the Westerkerk tower designed by Hendrik de Keyser, and later in the realizations of his students in Denmark. Graphic representations of the towers also played a role in popularizing the motif. The article investigates the potential routes of the motif ’s spread and explores possible connections between the different objects. Due to the various forms and contexts in which the motif was used, it is difficult to determine any additional ideological content beyond the prestigious functions associated with dominant tower structures.