Moulding

MOULDING. - A term that encompasses all the lesser members of the architectural orders.

There are eight principal mouldings: fillet, bead or astragal, torus, echinus, cavetto or shell, cyma recta, cyma reversa, scotia; they are called simple or compound according to whether their profile is determined by a single geometric curve or by two or more joined curves. The mouldings that make up the cornices, bases and imposts of columns and piers serve particular functions of separation (fillet, scotia), support (echinus, cyma reversa), and protection (cavetto, cyma recta). The greater or lesser emphasis of the individual mouldings must be studied in relation to the light and the viewing angles: a strong, direct light produces intense shadows and therefore requires less pronounced profiles, whereas with diffused light deep hollows are needed to avoid a flat and monotonous effect; if the viewing distance is too close, particular devices and perspectival distortions are employed. The combination of various mouldings (torus, fillets, scotia in bases; fillets and echinus in the Doric capital; cyma recta and reversa, fillet, cavetto in cornices, etc.) determines the profile of certain architectural elements.

Mario Zocca