What is "bead and reel"

"Bead and reel" is an architectural motif, usually found in sculptures, moldings, and numismatics. It consists in a thin line where beadlike elements alternate with cylindrical ones. It is found throughout the modern Western world in architectural detail, particularly on Greek/Roman style buildings, wallpaper borders, and interior moulding design. It is often used in combination with the "egg and dart" motif.

Bead and reel motifs can be found abundantly in Greek and Hellenistic sculpture, on the border of Hellenistic coins. In India, bead and reel motifs are found extensively, starting from the time of the Mauryan Empire, where they appears at the base of the capital of several of the Pillars of Ashoka.