What An External Dentil Is?

Exterior dentil molding is an architectural feature consisting of ornamental blocks arranged in a pattern of stepped-down squares, found on cornices, gables, arches, and window surrounds. Dentils, derived from the Latin word “dens”, meaning “teeth”, are small tooth-shaped blocks used as repeating ornaments in the bedmould of a cornice. They have been used on high-end structures for thousands of years as a visual feature.

Dentil molding is a type of wooden trim with blocks shaped like teeth, suitable for both interior and exterior uses. It is most commonly found as a horizontal band of blocks and is a staple in both interior and exterior design. Dentil shelves add aesthetic detail to doors by sitting just below the window glass or upper panel section on craftsman doors. These wooden details were used to “dress up” common houses and make them appear more like European mansonry structures of greater scope.

Dentil molding is a classic decorative element defined by rows of crisp rectangular blocks. It is most commonly used on exterior fascia, interior crown molding, and panel. They are often a separate molding that lays over another board or molding and can be removed or covered without issue. A thin shelf with small blocks under it separates the upper and lower parts of the door, adding a touch of elegance and detail to any home.

In summary, exterior dentil molding is a timeless and attractive way to add a unique touch to any home. It is composed of tooth-shaped blocks, which are used as repeating ornaments in the bedmould of cornices and other structures.

What is the purpose of a corbel?

A corbel is a structural element that traditionally serves to support the weight of architectural elements such as roofs, balconies, and overhangs. The decorative use of the corbel often includes ornate designs, which makes it a versatile and functional addition to any building.

What is a corbel on a house?

A corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood, or metal that juts from a wall to carry a superincumbent weight, a type of bracket. It is a solid piece in the wall, while a console is a piece applied to the structure. The technique of corbelling, where rows of corbels are deeply keyed inside a wall, has been used since Neolithic times and is common in medieval architecture, Scottish baronial style, and classical architecture. The corbel arch and corbel vault use this technique to make openings in walls and form ceilings, found in early architecture from Eurasia to Pre-Columbian architecture.

In the classical tradition, a console is an S-shaped scroll bracket, with the upper or inner part larger than the lower or outer part. Keystones are often in the form of consoles. While “corbel” is rarely used outside architecture, “console” is widely used for furniture and decorative arts with motifs.

What is the difference between a dentil and a modillion?

A modillion is an ornate bracket, less imposing than a corbel, often found underneath a cornice. They are more elaborate than dentils and are used as adjectival historic past participles for co-supporting or adorning high structures in buildings. Modillions can be carved or plain and can support any type of eaves cornice. They are typically found under a Corinthian or Composite cornice but can also support any type of eaves cornice. Modillions can be found in various locations, such as the Abbaye Ste Foy in France and the Campanile of Monteforte d’Alpone in Verona Italy.

What is the difference between a corbel and a cornice?

A corbel is a bracket constructed from stone, wood, or brick that serves to support a cornice or arch. The latter is an ornamental molding that is positioned at the apex of a building, wall, or arch.

What is a dentil in construction?

Dentils are small tooth-shaped blocks used as repeating ornaments in the bedmould of a cornice in architecture for thousands of years. They symbolize the care and effort put into decorating high-end structures, often placed just under the larger-top part of the molding. Dentil moldings complement other repeating features like keystones or window sill brackets, as they are repetitive by nature. Decorative features like wall brackets, window sill brackets, and keystones have a similar shape to dentils, often squared or rectangular, which contrasts well with smooth and elongated window trim, sills, and wall bands.

What does a corbel look like?

A corbel is an architectural block or bracket projecting from a wall, often in the eave of a roof overhang, that supports a ceiling, beam, shelf, or the roof overhang itself. It is often used to describe the thing that supports a structure, like the bottom bracket on an oriel window. Today’s corbels can be made of wood, plaster, marble, or other materials, natural or synthetic. Home supply stores often sell reproduction historic corbels made of polymer.

What is an example of a dentil?

Dentil ornamentation has its roots in ancient Greek and Roman architecture, such as the Library of Celsus and the Pantheon in Rome. The Renaissance in Europe from around 1400 to 1600 saw a renewed interest in Greek and Roman designs, leading to the use of dentil ornamentation in Renaissance architecture. Neoclassical architecture became the standard for public buildings after the American Revolution, with dignified Greek and Roman designs found in Washington, D. C., the White House, and the Library of Congress. Late neoclassical buildings, such as the 1935 U. S. Supreme Court building and the 1903 New York Stock Exchange building, also feature dentils.

What is the purpose of dentil?

Dentils are small blocks used as repeating ornaments in the bedmould of a cornice, found in ancient Greek and Roman architecture, as well as later styles such as Neoclassical, Federal, Georgian Revival, Greek Revival, Renaissance Revival, Second Empire, and Beaux-Arts architecture. They represent the end of a rafter and are most pronounced in Ionic temples of Asia Minor, Lycian tombs, and porticoes and tombs of Persia. The earliest example is found in the rock of the tomb of Darius, c. 500 BC, reproducing the portico of his palace.

The dentil was the chief feature employed in bedmould by the Romans and in the Italian Renaissance architecture. The projection of the dentil is equal to its width, appearing square, and the intervals between are half this measure. In some cases, the projecting band has never had sinkings cut into it to divide up the dentils, called a dentil-band.

The Venetian dentil, copied from the Byzantine dentil in Santa Sophia, Constantinople, was used to decorate the projecting moulding enclosing the encrusted marbles. Dentils were also introduced as a label round arches and as a string course. The dentil’s larger scale is still retained in later temples of Ionia.

What style house has dentil molding?

Federal/Adam houses are distinguished by dental molding in the cornice, Palladian windows, and other embellishments. They often feature clapboard as the predominant exterior cladding, with 3″ to 8″ reveals. Historically, a light to medium palette was common, but modern interpretations incorporate a broader variety of colors, including deeper hues. Vinyl and polypropylene siding come in hundreds of certified colors to withstand fading.

What is the difference between a corbel and a dentil?

Dentils are blocks laid in an even pattern over a cornice molding, creating a row of teeth-like ornaments. Corbels are architectural elements that project from a wall and serve to support a ceiling, beam, or shelf.

What is a dentil shelf for?

A dentil shelf is a decorative element that adds prominence, depth, and elegance to a building or door. Originating from ancient Greek and Roman architecture, they were used as decorative elements in Neoclassical and Renaissance architecture. They were found in exterior and interior spaces, often as part of crown molding, and were almost exclusively made of stone. Dentils are symmetrical and perfectly shaped, making them a key part of the crown molding. They also serve as a way to honor traditional craftsman style and ancient Greek and Roman architecture.