| Across the globe there are thousands of interesting | | | | The word "corbel" comes from Old French and |
| and appealing corbels. However, despite the appeal of | | | | derives from the Latin corbellus, a diminutive of corvus |
| these corbels, many people are unsure exactly what a | | | | (a raven) which refers to the beak-like appearance. |
| "corbel" is ? Essentially, a corbel is a piece of stone, or | | | | Similarly, the French refer to a corbel as corbeau (a |
| possibly timber, which juts out of a wall to carry | | | | crow) or as cul-de-lampe, Italians as mensola, the |
| incumbent weight. But, corbels do much more than just | | | | Germans as kragstein. |
| this decidedly unsexy work, they allure and provide | | | | The technique of corbelling, where rows of corbels |
| one with a brief yet detailed look into a buildings past. | | | | support a projecting wall or parapet, has been used |
| The name derives from a French word meaning crow, | | | | since Neolithic times. It is common in medieval |
| because of the corbel's beaklike shape. | | | | architecture and in the Scottish baronial style. |
| Corbels are most famous for appearing as gargoyles | | | | Many people use corbels in the 21st century as a way |
| on the side of churches and cathedrals, namely Notre | | | | of decorating their house. Corbels provide a space and |
| Dame in Paris. Norman (Romanesque) corbels often | | | | cost-effective way of making one's house more |
| have a plain appearance, although they may be | | | | presentable, and adds culture and style to a home. By |
| elaborately carved with stylized heads of humans, | | | | replacing doorways with "corbeled archs", one can |
| animals or imaginary "beasts", and sometimes with | | | | make there house more spacious and more |
| other motifs. The corbels carrying balconies in Italy and | | | | presentable. |
| France were sometimes of great size and richly | | | | Notable examples of corbels worldwide include: |
| carved, and some of the finest examples of the Italian | | | | * The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris |
| "Cinquecento" (16th century) style are found in them. | | | | * Maes Howe, a particularly fine Neolithic chambered |
| Throughout England, in half-timber work, wooden | | | | cairn in Scotland. |
| corbels abound, carrying window-sills or oriel windows | | | | * Gallarus Oratory, an early Christian church in Ireland, is |
| in wood, which also are often carved. | | | | built with corbel vaulting. |
| A corbel arch is an arch-like construction method | | | | Corbels, while away from public limelight, ensure the |
| which uses the architectural technique of corbeling to | | | | stability and good-looks for thousands of buildings |
| span a space or void in a structure, such as an | | | | across the globe. They can be found on medieval |
| entranceway in a wall or as the span of a bridge. A | | | | castles, or modern-day homes. Corbels are all around |
| corbel vault uses this technique to support the | | | | us. |
| superstructure of a building's roof. | | | | |