THREE CLASSIC ORDERS OF GREEK ARCHITECTURE

Back

A0455_1

THREE CLASSIC ORDERS OF GREEK ARCHITECTURE

By Anita Simon

The Corinthian Column

At The Johnston Collection we have two examples of these: The marble souvenirs that were probably brought back from Italy (below), and the fragments from an 18th century Meissen pink and white porcelain dessert table decoration.

This design represents one of the three classic orders of architecture that we have inherited from the Greeks. These classical orders-controlled proportion in Greek architectural design. The Corinthian column, made up of capital, pillar and base (as with our pieces) generally rests on a pedestal, and has a complex entablature above the capital that supports the pediment. The capital or decorative head is based on the spiny leaf of the acanthus plant. Its style was probably initiated in the 5th century BCE and was used in the 4th century BCE for interior columns. It has been an inspiration for architecture many, many times in the past 2000 years.

The Ionic Column

Seen in the Green Drawing Room, it is characterised by four spiral 'volutes' which decorate its capital. The design is based on the Egyptian lily and the volutes act as a decorative bracket supporting the architrave.

The Doric Column

The column is simpler with a plain capital and no base. It is a very early design and it is characterised by its strength and elegance and the pure harmony of the order. It is taller and more majestic than the Ionic order and is rather more delicate. Both orders were developed for the superstructure of temples and were originally constructed in wood.

LEARN MORE


 

References

Therle Hughes, A-Z Collector’s Terms, Chancellor Press, 1979.

Botsford & Robinson, Hellenic History, Macmillan, 1957

This article was first published in fairhall , Issue 2, April 2011, pp 9-10.

Back to TJC Journal

Journals

By Irene Villis


By Denise Farmery


By Irene Villis


By Julie Thompson


By Dorothy Morgan


By Charles French


By Ken Barnes


By Louise Voll Box


By Denise Farmery


By Peter McNeil


By Rose Madder


By Rose Madder


By Rose Madder


By Louise Voll Box


By Jocelyn Ng


By Diana English


By Vivien Knowles


By Eugene Barilo von Reisberg


By Susan Williams


By Eugene Barilo von Reisberg


By Donna Jones


By Claire Regnault


By Irene Villis


By Judith Heaven


By Claire Regnault


By Charles French


By Dani Balmford


By Charles French


By Marguerite Bell


By Rose Madder


By Rosemary Ramage


By Suzanne Katz


By Marguerite Bell


By Wendy Babiolakis


By Deidre Basham


By Dorothy Morgan


By Anne Glynn


By Rosemary Ramage


By Anita Simon