Modillion

A modillion is an ornate bracket, more horizontal in shape and less imposing than a corbel. They are often seen underneath a cornice which helps to support them. Modillions are more elaborate than dentils (literally translated as small teeth).^[1] All three are selectively used as adjectival historic past participles (corbelled, modillioned, dentillated) as to what co-supports or simply adorns any high structure of a building, such as a terrace of a roof (a flat area of a roof), parapet, pediment/entablature, balcony, cornice band or roof cornice. Modillions occur classically under a Corinthian or a Composite cornice but may support any type of eaves cornice.^[2] They may be carved or plain.

Modillions under the cornice of the Morgan, Leith, and Cook Building in the East Portland Grand Avenue Historic District, Portland, Oregon

See also

• Glossary of architecture

Gallery

• 
  Modillions carved with animal heads in the Abbaye Ste Foy in Conques (France).
• 
  Trinity College, in Dublin.
• 
  Modillion double spiral, Neoclassicism (from Classic Art), from keystone of Campanile of Monteforte d'Alpone (Verona ITALY)
• 
  La rue Forgeur, Liège, Belgium.
• 
  Église de Dampierre, south side of the part of choir from the 13th century.
• 
  A house in Hasselt, Belgium.

References

1. "Illustrated Glossary of Classical Architecture". doric-column.com. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
2. Bradley, Simon, ed. (2010), Pevsner's Architectural Glossary, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 83, ISBN 978-0-300-16721-4