Chambranle

Chambranle (Moravec, Czech Republic)

In architecture and joinery, the chambranle is the border, frame, or ornament, made of stone or wood, that is a component of the three sides round chamber doors, large windows, and chimneys.

When a chambranle is plain and without mouldings, it is called a band, case, or frame. The chambranle consists of three parts; the two sides, called montants, or ports, and the top, called the traverse or supercilium. The chambranle of an ordinary door is frequently called a door-case; of a window, window-frame; and of a chimney, mantle-tree.

History

In ancient architecture, antepagmenta were garnishings in posts or doors, wrought in stone or timber, or lintels of a window. The word comes from Latin and has been borrowed in English to be used for the entire chambranle, i.e. the door case, or window frame.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 

[1]

• Antepagmenta, Cyclopaedia: or, An Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (folio, 2 vols.), Ephraim Chambers. London 1728, p. 106.
  • Chambranle, Cyclopaedia: or, An Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (folio, 2 vols.), Ephraim Chambers. London 1728, p. 190.
• ANTEPAGMENTA, Ancient Library, p. 98