Molding (decorative)

Molding (spelled moulding and alternatively called coving in British and Australian English) is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster, but may be of plastic or reformed wood. In classical architecture and sculpture, the molding is often carved in marble or other stones. In historic architecture, and some expensive modern buildings, it may be formed in place with plaster. A "plain" molding has right-angled upper and lower edges. A "sprung" molding has upper and lower edges that bevel towards its rear, allowing mounting between two non-parallel planes (such as a wall and a ceiling), with an open space behind. Moldings may be decorated with paterae as long, uninterrupted elements may be boring for the eyes.

Types Decorative moldings have been made of wood, stone, and cement. Recently moldings have been made of extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) as a core with a cement-based protective coating. Synthetic moldings are a cost-effective alternative that rivals the aesthetic and function of traditional profiles.

Common moldings include:

Archivolt: Ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch. Astragal: Semi-circular molding attached to one of a pair of doors to cover the gap where they meet. Baguette: Thin, half-round molding, smaller than an astragal, sometimes carved, and enriched with foliages, pearls, ribbands, laurels, etc. When enriched with ornaments, it was also called chapelet. Bandelet: Any little band or flat molding, which crowns a Doric architrave. It is also called a tenia (from Greek ταινία an article of clothing in the form of a ribbon). Baseboard, "base molding" or "skirting board": Used to conceal the junction of an interior wall and floor, to protect the wall from impacts and to add decorative features. A "speed base" makes use of a base "cap molding" set on top of a plain 1" thick board, however there are hundreds of baseboard profiles. Baton: See Torus Batten or board and batten: Symmetrical molding that is placed across a joint where two parallel panels or boards meet Bead molding: Narrow, half-round convex molding, when repeated forms reeding Beading or bead: Molding in the form of a row of half spherical beads, larger than pearling Other forms: Bead and leaf, bead and reel, bead and spindle Beak: Small fillet molding left on the edge of a larmier, which forms a canal, and makes a kind of pendant. See also: chin-beak Bed-mold or bed molding: Narrow molding used at the junction of a wall and ceiling, found under the cornice, of which it is a part. Similar to crown molding, a bed mold is used to cover the joint between the ceiling and wall. Bed molds can be either sprung or plain, or flush to the wall as an extension of a cornice mold. Bolection: Raised molding projecting proud of a face frame at the intersection of the different levels between the frame and an inset panel on a door or wood panel. It will sometimes have a rabbet on its underside the depth of the lower level so it can lay flat over both. It can leave an inset panel free to expand or contract with temperature and humidity. Cable molding or ropework: Convex molding carved in imitation of a twisted rope or cord, and used for decorative moldings of the Romanesque style in England, France and Spain and adapted for 18th-century silver and furniture design (Thomas Sheraton) Cabled fluting or cable: Convex circular molding sunk in the concave fluting of a classic column, and rising about one-third of the height of the shaft Casing: Finish trim around the sides of a door or window opening covering the gap between finished wall and the jam or frame it is attached to. Cartouche (in French) escutcheon: Framed panel in the form of a scroll with an inscribed centre, or surrounded by compound moldings decorated with floral motifs Cavetto: (in Italian) cavare ("to hollow"): Concave, quarter-round molding sometimes employed in the place of the cymatium of a cornice, as in the Doric order of the Theatre of Marcellus. It forms the crowning feature of Egyptian temples and took the place of the cymatium in many Etruscan temples. Chair rail or dado rail: Horizontal molding placed part way up a wall to protect the surface from chair-backs, and used simply as decoration Chamfer: Beveled edge between two adjacent surfaces Chin-beak: Concave quarter-round molding, rare in ancient buildings, more common today. Corner guard: Used to protect the edge of the wall at an outside corner, or to cover a joint on an inside corner. Cornice: Generally any horizontal decorative molding Cove molding or coving: Concave-profile molding that is used at the junction of an interior wall and ceiling Crown molding: Wide, sprung molding that is used at the junction of an interior wall and ceiling. General term for any molding at the top or "crowning" an architectural element.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.