Pillars

Nowadays the pillar is not simply an essential supporting part of a building. First of all it is an original embellishment component. As a wonderful designer solution the pillar is often used not only as an exterior decorative element but as a means of adorning interior, stairways, gazebos, fountains and so on.

Since times immemorial pillars have been created according to certain architectural styles that have acquired the names of orders (originating from Latin term «order, mode»).

Specialists distinguish five classical styles of architecture: the Doric, the Ionic and the Corinthian orders, originating in Ancient Greece, as well as the Tuscan and the Composite styles, characteristic of the Ancient Roman architecture.

 The pillar consists of the following elements:

The capital (the column cap or chapiter) is the upper part that distributes pressure of top elements is the most expressive characteristic element of an order.

The column shaft is the main part of the pillar. In classical architecture the column shaft was adorned with channelures. 

The flute (channelure) is a vertical groove on a column shaft. They first appeared on columns in Ancient Egypt and had further development in the ancient architecture. Parallel channelures coming from foundation to the top may cover pillars or columns of any of the five orders of classical architecture except for the Tuscan columns which are never fluted.  

The plinth is a lower part which transfers pressure to the foundation of a pillar.  

                             Classical orders  The Dorian   The Ionic   The Corinthean

                     Derivative orders the Tuscan   The Roman Dorian  The Composite

For more photos of various stone products visit our photo gallery section "Pillars".