subject: Adorn Ancient Culture with Cast Stone Corbels [print this page] Adorn Ancient Culture with Cast Stone Corbels
Cast Stone Corbels are also known as cast stone consoles. They are pieces of stones which protrude from the wall absorbing a particular weight. They are also referred to as braggers or tassels. This skill has been in use from time immemorial and is very common with the ancient English and Scottish designs and also ancient Roman and Chinese architectural know how. Corbel derives its name from the beak like shape and can be identified with old Latin and French cultures.
There are many designs and styles used in corbels which are usually distinctive as you traverse through different ancient histories. The French identifies it with a cul-de-lampe which is of a kind that is used to support the vault. The Chinese dougong has a structural aspect that can withstand a load.
The ancient Romans had cornices that were plain in shape but with their early skills and arts some would have designs and styles which depicted human heads, those of animals or even wild beasts. These are amongst the artifacts that adorned their early civilization.
Italy is noted to have most of the world's finest corbels which are known to hold balconies that were sometimes very enormous in size and extravagantly curved. In France trained or professional designers were often encouraged to express their arts on corbels.
In ancient architecture vertical walls were achieved by rows of corbels. Eventually the walls would be corbelled together until a slab spanned gave way to an opening. This method was used to achieve save havens in case of attacks when at war as there would be openings between corbels where weapons would be dropped to the enemies. Corbelling used to offer support to upper stories and more importantly the protruding corner tower.
In Scotland, the corbels were used to support upper stories together with stairways that protruded from the wall. The ancient ones had traditional carves forming a knot but the modern ones are similar to columns.
Cast Stone Corbels were also very important in the ancient days because they served as barriers to rainwater and similar natural occurrences which have now been solved by modern architectural methods as there is always provision for drainage systems which are securely internalized when designing any building.
The present day corbels that are normally manufactured are influenced by the machines and technology used. This modern method has watered down a bit the vintage method which the corbels were done manually and bringing about a signature and a masterpiece that in other cases could not be replicated. The modern day corbel looks so smooth and with no imperfection when compared to the ancient corbel which was not that perfect but this was the most important bit as it brought out that rustic feeling in the finished product. All in all corbels are also added in beautifying different areas in the architectural business in both exterior and interior parts such as the mantel found around the fireplace. The stairways are also enhanced by the corbels not forgetting the exterior upper places near the gutters.
