This is our fourth MissPres Architectural Word of the Week. We are moving right along through the alphabet with our past words having been Abacus, Bracket, and Corbel. Have you been keeping an eye out for these elements like I have? The MDAH Historic Resources Inventory Database has lots of buildings that I could have used for today’s example images, so it was tough narrowing them down. Be sure to check out the HRI database for more info on the buildings featured in Architectural Word of the Week
This weeks word is brought to you by the letter D as defined by Lester Walker’s American Homes: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Domestic Architecture
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Dentil: (ˈden-təl, -ˌtil) Small projecting blocks or “teeth” used in rows in classical cornices as ornament.
Keep your eyes out for Dentils this week and stay tuned for the next MissPres Architectural Word of the Week!
I love to see dentils in unusual places, like a Romanesque Revival courthouse–thanks for finding these little nuggets!
Posted by ELMalvaney | February 24, 2012, 8:05 amGlad to share! That’s one of my hopes for the AWOTW that we can see buildings in different styles speaking the same language.
Posted by Thomas Rosell | February 24, 2012, 8:09 amI’m liking our vocabulary lessons. I hadn’t really thought to compare the pediments of Belmont and Lakeport. Belmont (1857) and Lakeport (1859) are likely built by the same builder(s), but one uses brackets on the pediment and the other uses dentil molding which extend to the side elevations in both homes.
Pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/117012022455268263531/BracketDentil?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Posted by Blake Wintory | February 24, 2012, 9:51 amThat is a great example of how two structures with very similar form can look totally different with the change of a physically small element.
Posted by Thomas Rosell | February 24, 2012, 1:16 pm