Corbelling is rich in design history. In this article we’ll take a look at five of the most popular styles of corbels that are still in use today. This is not about the material, but rather the actual shape and design of these bracket supports. All of these styles can be found through most any corbel manufacturer / distributor worth his weight in salt today.
Acanthus
The acanthus plant is native to the Mediterranean area, but is found virtually everywhere these days. It has large and spiny leaves, and gives white and purple flowers. This is a very common type of corbel in use today. I suppose it is popular because it can be fairly easily carved and is a nice, light wooden color. The designs of these acanthus corbels are very intricate. They are also typically pretty wide, so this allows for even more detailing and patterns. Continue reading “Types of Corbels – Styles”
Adding the finishing touch to your home by buying corbels to decorate with is a relatively simple process. Whether you are defining an open space or making a decorative shelf, corbels are the answer! Choose the design and material and the let the decorating begin.
Take this decorating project step by step and consider your best options. Corbels are a beautiful object to use in decorating but they should enhance your decorating theme and not destroy it. Read up on corbels and look at some of the decorating tips in architectural magazines. This should be a good guide. The more you view, the more your real “look” will be evident. Continue reading “Buying Corbels To Decorate And Add The Finishing Touch!”
The term “corbel” was first used in its architectural application in the 15th century. Nevertheless, the actual supports date back further than that. Some sources claim the beginning of corbels to be somewhere in the Neolithic, or New Stone Age, era. They were also in use in B.C. era China.
The French in particular made exacting demands on what could and couldn’t be called a “corbel”. They said that it had to be perpendicular to both the wall and the surface that it was supporting. They went further than this even, claiming that a support was not allowed to be classed with corbels if its horizontal surface was not longer than its vertical edge running up the wall. The term itself derives from the Old French language via the Latin word corbellus, which means “appearing like the beak of a crow”. Continue reading “History of Corbels – Where the Gargoyles Lurked”
Though it is an old and somewhat unknown word, corbels are still very much relevant today. In this article we’ll answer the questions of what they are, as well as what they are used for today, and what they have been used for through history. Their use dates far, far back in the history of architecture, but currently they are much more popular for indoor use than they ever were back in the old times.
Corbels are bracket-like supports which come out of one wall and hold up something else which is jutting out horizontally. They are like a fancy, carved triangle of support between the vertical and horizontal. Corbels are common to see on old buildings (even ancient) where they are form a stone or wood support between the exterior of a wall and the roof itself. You will find them everywhere, but especially throughout Europe (France, Germany, etc.) and even in old Chinese architecture. They always add a very classic look to no matter how they are used. Continue reading “What Are Corbels?”
