Fretwork is an interlaced decorative design that is either carved in low relief on a solid background, or cut out with a
fretsaw,
coping saw,
jigsaw or
scroll saw. Most fretwork patterns are geometric in design. The materials most commonly used are
wood and
metal. Fretwork is used to adorn
furniture and
musical instruments. The term is also used for
tracery on glazed windows and doors. Fretwork is also used to adorn/decorate architecture, where specific elements of decor are named according to their use such as eave
bracket, gable fretwork or baluster fretwork, which may be of metal, especially
cast iron or
aluminum.