Classical Orders

• Architrave

  The lowest part of a classical entablature, resting directly on the column capitals; also the moulded frame surrounding a door or window.

• Baluster

  One of a series of short, often vase-shaped posts supporting a handrail or coping to form a balustrade.

• Balustrade

  A balustrade is a complete railing system consisting of a row of small, vertical posts called balusters topped by a horizontal handrail, often supported at the ends by larger newel posts. It serves both a critical safety function by preventing falls from elevated areas like staircases, balconies, and terraces, and a decorative purpose by enhancing a building's architectural character. Originating from classical traditions and gaining prominence during the Renaissance, balustrades can be crafted from diverse materials including stone, wood, metal, and glass to suit various historical and contemporary styles.

• Bracket

  A bracket is a structural or decorative architectural element that projects from a wall or vertical surface to support the weight of an overhanging feature, such as a cornice, balcony, eave, or shelf. Typically L-shaped or angled, brackets transfer vertical loads back to the main structure and can be made from various materials, including wood, stone, metal, or plaster. While many brackets serve a critical load-bearing function, they are also frequently used as ornamental features, often featuring elaborate carvings, scrolls, or volutes that enhance the building's aesthetic character.

• Capital

  The uppermost member of a column or pilaster, mediating between the shaft and the load it carries. Its form is a primary marker of the classical order: Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian.

• Column

  A vertical member that carries loads primarily in compression. In classical architecture, a column is also a composed architectural element, typically consisting of a base, shaft, and capital.

• Column base

  A column base is the lowermost structural and decorative component of a column that rests upon a foundation, floor, or pedestal. It serves to distribute the vertical load of the column shaft and the structure above it evenly across a wider surface area to ensure stability and prevent structural failure. In classical architecture, the base typically consists of a flat square slab called a plinth and various circular moldings, such as the convex torus and concave scotia, which provide a rhythmic transition between the ground and the vertical shaft. While standard in the Ionic and Corinthian orders, the base is notably absent in the ancient Greek Doric order, where the column rests directly on the building's platform.

• Corbel

  A corbel is a structural or decorative architectural member that projects from a wall to support a weight above it, such as a cornice, balcony, beam, or arch. Traditionally crafted from stone, wood, or metal, this bracket-like element functions by being deeply embedded into the masonry to counteract the pressure of the load it carries. Beyond their functional role in distributing weight and providing stability, corbels are often ornately carved with motifs ranging from classical scrolls to grotesque figures, serving as a prominent aesthetic feature in styles such as Gothic, Renaissance, and Victorian architecture.

• Dentil

  A dentil is a small, rectangular block used as a repeating ornament in a series, typically found within the bedmould of a cornice or along a roofline. Derived from the Latin word dens, meaning tooth, these closely spaced decorative elements resemble a row of teeth and are a hallmark of classical Greek and Roman architecture. Dentils serve to add visual rhythm, depth, and a sense of formal elegance to both exterior facades and interior trim, often appearing in Neoclassical, Federal, and Colonial Revival styles to convey a timeless, refined character.

• Entablature

  The horizontal assembly above the columns of a classical order. From bottom to top, its three principal parts are the architrave, frieze, and cornice.

• Finial

  A finial is a decorative architectural element that marks the top or end of an object, such as a roof, spire, tower, gable, or furniture post. Originating from the Latin word finis, meaning end, it serves as a finishing touch or "crowning" ornament that emphasizes the highest point of a structure. Finials can take many forms, including spheres, flames, pineapples, or stylized foliage like the fleur-de-lis, and are commonly crafted from materials such as stone, metal, wood, or precast concrete to enhance a building's aesthetic identity and character.

• Frieze

  The broad middle band of a classical entablature, between the architrave below and the cornice above, often plain or decorated with relief.

• Ionic

  One of the three principal Greek orders, recognised by its slender fluted shaft, moulded base, and a capital with twin spiral scrolls called volutes.

• Modillion

  A modillion is an ornamental architectural bracket or console, primarily employed in classical and neoclassical design to support cornices, eaves, or other projecting elements while serving as a decorative feature. Typically appearing as a series of scroll-shaped blocks arranged at regular intervals along the underside of a cornice, these elements create a rhythmic pattern that adds visual interest and perceived support to the overhanging structure. While often featuring elaborate carvings such as acanthus leaves in the Corinthian and Composite orders, they can also appear as plain rectangular blocks, known as block modillions, providing a more restrained aesthetic.

• Ornamental molding

  Ornamental molding refers to a continuous decorative strip or contoured element used to outline, frame, or enhance the surfaces and transitions of a building's interior and exterior. Traditionally crafted from wood, plaster, stone, or masonry, these moldings serve both aesthetic and functional purposes by adding visual depth, character, and rhythm while concealing gaps between different materials, such as where a wall meets a ceiling or floor. Common types include crown molding, baseboards, and chair rails, often featuring classical motifs like egg-and-dart, dentils, or acanthus leaves that reflect various architectural styles from Greco-Roman antiquity to modern design.

• Pediment

  A triangular gable crowning a classical portico or facade, framed by horizontal and raking cornices around a recessed tympanum.

• Pilaster capital

  A pilaster capital is the ornamental top section of a pilaster that serves as a decorative transition between the vertical shaft and the horizontal elements above, such as an entablature or arch. It is typically designed according to classical orders like Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian to enhance the building's aesthetic character and provide visual completion to the pilaster's form.

• Tympanum

  The recessed triangular surface enclosed by the cornices of a pediment, or the area between a lintel and the arch above a doorway.