Chap.

III.
MOULDINCa 973
30 callec. from its resemblance to a roll of thick paper, the outer edge of which overlaps
the side exposed to view. It was extensively used in the decorated period."
Tlie exquisite skill, taste, and patient labour invariably evinced in the working of early
English mouldings, are truly admirable. The deepest liollows are all as clearly and per-
fectly cut as the most prominent and conspicuous details
;
and as much so in the village
cimrch as in the cathedral. Some examples (of doorways) occur at Bolton and Furness
Abbeys, whose arch mouldings extend 5 to 6 feet in width.
"
Tlie details of decorated mouldings are for the most i)art
identical with those of the
preceding stvle, witii the addition of some new members, and several important modifica-
tions of grouping. The latter will be found to produce an entirely diflferent effect, though
in description the distinction may appear very tritiing. Much greater geometrical precision
in drawing botli the hollows and the projecting members pievailed. Segments of circles,
both convex and concave, were much used, witli an avoidance of strong contrasts of ligiit
and shade, which imparted a more pleasing, though much less striking, effect. The jier-
fection of moulding, as of all architectural detail, is considered by many to have been
attained in this period
;
yet rich mouldings in it are of rather rare occurrence. Very
often plain chamfers are used in all the windows, doorways, and i^ier
arches, wlule minor
parts, such as bases, sedilia, and tlie like, liave fine and elaborate details.
"
There appear to be tln-ee distinct kinds to which decorated mouldings may be generally
referred
: I. The plain or hollow chamfer of two or more orders, which, properly speaking,
is only the stej) preparatory to moulding. II. Roll and Hllet mouldings, and fillets with
hollows between eacli group. III. A succession of double ogees, or double ressants,
divided by hollows of three-quarters of a circle Sometimes the mouldings of 1 1. are com-
bined with those of III. The mouldings of class II. are generally borne by jamb shafts,
now engaged in, and not detached, from the wall. 'J'hose of III. are almost always con-
tinuous, except in pier arches, where they constantly occur. Four or five of these t. gether
give a very deep and rich effect to a doorway. One member of a double ogee is often
considerably larger than the other, or those of one order of different size from the others.
"
Tlie principal forms found in decorated work are :

I. The roll and fillet, the fillet being

extremely broad, ofUv. as mucii as 3 a:id 4 inclies. II. The roll and trijjle fillet, invarial>ly
producing a fine effect. Its edge lines are sharp and delicate, and the profile beautifully
relieved by the dee]) side hollows with which it is
^,j^
nicessarily connected. HI. The ogee. IV. The
^
1
double ogee, or dotihle ressaiit. V. The scroll
^^
;noulding, or ressaiit hripner. VI. The wave
,
3
moulding,
which may be cal'ed the iindi/bnl.'el ~
j
[
j
(A in/,(/. 10G8.), from its gently undulating surface:
^
!
^
scarcely any method of moulding; is so common in, '
I
,
n-
I
or so cliaracttristic of this period, as two orders of
^
^ 1 1 -^J
"^
the wave moulding, with a hollow between them : I
J
all the varieties of this moulding appear to occur \
/-^
without any definite distinction throughout the
L^.-
'--^.
)
decorated and
perpendicular periods ; it is wider
\
r
and sliallower in early than in late work
;
the wavy
'^_^
line is even at times very faint. VII. The plain,
Fip. 1068. bowden- ciiuncii
:
aiom.
or hollow, cliamfer
;
and VIII. Tiie sunken ciianifer. The boltel, or three-quarter round, is
used very sparingly. The hollows are usually of larger size than those of the early English
;
and there is this general difference in their use, that in i/iis style they divide yrovps, in the
mill/ Eiitflish, individual members. A few exceptional instances occur of a tongue-shajjed
member projecting from the inner side of tiie principal roll and fillet
;
this is a very cha-
racteristic detail of the class II.
"
In windows, the plane in which the mouldings of tlie jamb lie is seldom coincident
with that on which the side of the mullion is arranged, lor tliis would in most cases give
too great thickness to the latter. The difference of inclination may be very sliglit, but it
requires attention.
'
In mouldings o^ i\\e perpendicular yeriod, a comparatively meagre save-trouble method
of working them is perceived. Large and coarse members, with little of minute detail:
wide and shallow hollows
;
hard wiry edges in place of rounded softtned forms, aie all
conspicuous
charact^'ristics. Their general arrangement on the chamfer ])lane
{fiys.
lOul.
and 1062.),
wliich is a marked feature of tliis period, gives a flatness unpleasing to the eye
in
comparison with the rectangularly recessed grouping of the two preceding styles.
Three
peculiarities are so common, that tlieir absence almost forms the exce|)tion to the
n-eneral usa"'e. The^e are
:
I. A wide- shallow hallow, usually occupying the centre
of
the "-roup, and equal to about one third of the entire width. When tlie holKiw is deep
and narrow, it is generally a mark of early work
;
of late, when wide and shallow; anil of
liebased, when sunken but little below the chamfer plane. One or both ends of tiie hollow
are sometimes returned in a kind of qujisi-boltel (as \.
fig.
lOO'J. ). The boltel is otteu