Frieze

Frieze

In architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain or – in the Ionic or Corinthian order – decorated with bas-reliefs. In an astylar wall it lies upon the architrave ('main beam') and is capped by the moldings of the cornice.

In interiors, the frieze of a room is the section of wall above the picture rail and under the crown moldings or cornice. By extension, a frieze is a long stretch of painted, sculpted or even calligraphic decoration in such a position, normally above eye-level. Frieze decorations may depict scenes in a sequence of discrete panels. The material of which the frieze is made of may be plasterwork, carved wood or other decorative medium.In an example of an architectural frieze on the facade of a building, the octagonal Tower of the Winds in the Roman agora at Athens bears relief sculptures of the eight winds on its frieze.

A pulvinated frieze (or pulvino) is convex in section. Such friezes were featues of 17th-century Northern Mannerism, especially in subsidiary friezes, and much employed in interior architecture and in furniture.

The concept of a "frieze" has been generalized in the mathematical construction of Frieze patterns.


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  • Frieze — Frieze, n. [Perh. the same word as frieze a, kind of cloth. Cf. {Friz}.] (Arch.) (a) That part of the entablature of an order which is between the architrave and cornice. It is a flat member or face, either uniform or broken by triglyphs, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Frieze — Frieze, n. [F. frise, perh. originally a woolen cloth or stuff from Friesland (F. Frise); cf. LL. frisii panni and frissatus pannus, a shaggy woolen cloth, F. friser to friz, curl. Cf. {Friz}.] A kind of coarse woolen cloth or stuff with a shaggy …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Frieze — bezeichnet: Frieze Art Fair Frieze Teppich, eine Teppichart, die aus stark gekräuselten Garnen Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Frieze — Frieze, v. t. To make a nap on (cloth); to friz. See {Friz}, v. t., 2. [1913 Webster] {Friezing machine}, a machine for friezing cloth; a friezing machine. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • frieze — [fri:z] n [Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: frise, perhaps from Latin Phrygia, ancient country in Asia whose people were famous for their skill in making things] a decoration that goes along the top of the walls of a room or a building …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • frieze — [ friz ] noun count a line of decoration around the walls of a room or building …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • frieze — sculptured horizontal band in architecture, 1560s, from M.Fr. frise, originally a ruff, from M.L. frisium embroidered border, variant of frigium, probably from L. Phrygium Phrygian, Phrygian work, from Phrygia, the ancient country in Asia Minor… …   Etymology dictionary

  • frieze — ► NOUN 1) a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration. 2) Architecture the part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice. ORIGIN Latin frisium, from Phrygium opus work of Phrygia …   English terms dictionary

  • frieze — frieze1 [frēz] n. [Fr frise < ML frisium < ? Frank * frisi, a curl, akin to OE fris, crisped, curled; ? confused in folk etym. by assoc. with ML frigium < L Phrygium, Phrygian: Phrygia was noted for embroidery in gold] 1. a decoration or …   English World dictionary

  • frieze — frieze1 /freez/, n. 1. Archit. a. the part of a classical entablature between the architrave and the cornice, usually decorated with sculpture in low relief. See diag. under column. b. any decorative band on an outside wall, broader than a… …   Universalium

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