The Corinthian Order - Decorative Columns

The Corinthian order was the latest and most elaborate of the classical orders of architecture. Its distinctive feature is a slender fluted column and an intricate capital adorned with acanthus leaves and scrolls. This capital may appear to be an enriched expansion of the Ionic capital. The Corinthian column shaft is nearly always fluted. Since the Corinthian order is the most variable of the other orders, the flutes may be filleted, using rods placed within the hollow flutes. Sometimes beading or chains of husks replace the fillets in the fluting. Later, the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture replaced the classical system with a new standard made up of arched vaults springing from columns, but the Corinthian capital was kept in its original form.

The Corinthian order architrave is split into two or three parts. These sections may be equal or they may display interesting proportional relationships to each other. The frieze, sometimes plain or ornately carved with a continuous design, sits above the plain, unadorned architrave. The shapes of the cornice moldings are like those of the Ionic order. The Doric and Ionic column capitals have necks beneath them, but the Corinthian capital uses no neck; instead it has a ring-like astragal molding or a banding forming the base of the capital. There is an abacus on the capital which has concave sides that conform to the scrolling corners. There may also be a rosette at the center or each side.

Corinthian Tapered Specifications

Corinthian Tapered Shaft

Attic Base

Corinthian Cap

Outside Diameter

Inside Diameter

Fluting Specs

Plinth

Base Moulding

Total

Height

Width

Bottom

Top

Bottom

Top

No.

Width

B-F

4-3/4"

3”

1/2"

3/4"

1/2"

3-1/2”

7”

9-1/2”

6-1/2"

5-1/4"

4-7/8"

11/16"

10-3/4"

1-7/8"

1-1/8"

7/8"

3/4"

1/2"

5-1/8”

10-1/4”

12-3/4”

10"

8-1/2"

7-1/4"

6-7/8"

7/8"

13-3/8"

2-3/8"

1-1/4"

1-1/8"

7/8"

5/8"

6-1/4”

12”

15”

12"

10"

9”

8-1/2"

16-1/8"

2-3/4"

1-1/2"

1-3/8"

5/8"

7-1/4”

15-1/2”

18-1/2”

14"

12"

10-1/8"

1-1/4"

18-3/4"

3-3/8"

1-3/4"

1-5/8"

1-1/4”

3/4"

8-3/4”

17”

22”

15"

12-3/4"

11-1/16"

10"

1-11/32"

20-1/8"

3-5/8"

1-15/16"

1-3/4"

1-5/16”

13/16"

9-7/16”

17”

22”

16"

13-1/2"

12"

10"

1-7/16"

21-1/2"

3-7/8"

2-1/8"

1-7/8"

1-3/8”

7/8”

10-1/8”

20”

27”

18"

15"

14-1/4"

12"

1-1/2"

24-1/4"

4-1/4"

2-3/8"

2-1/8"

1-1/2”

1-1/8”

11-3/8”

23”

32-1/2”

20"

17"

16-1/4"

13"

1-11/16"

27"

4-3/4"

2-5/8"

2-3/8"

1-3/4”

1-3/8”

12-7/8”

25-1/2”

39”

22"

18-1/2"

18-1/4"

15"

1-15/16"

29-3/4"

5-1/4"

2-7/8"

2-5/8"

1-7/8”

1-5/8”

14-1/4”

28-1/2”

42”

24"

20"

20-1/4"

17"

2-1/8"

32-1/2"

5-3/4"

3-3/16"

2-7/8"

2-1/8”

1-3/4”

15-15/16

28-1/2”

42”

26"

22"

22-1/8"

19"

2-1/4"

35"

6-1/4"

3-3/8"

3-1/8"

2-1/4”

1-7/8”

16-7/8”

32”

42”

28"

23-1/2"

24-1/8"

21"

2-11/16"

38"

6-3/4"

3-3/4"

3-3/8"

2-3/8”

1-7/8”

18-1/8”

34”

46”

30"

25"

26-1/4"

22"

2-7/8"

40-1/2"

7-1/4"

3-7/8"

3-5/8"

2-5/8”

1-7/8”

19-1/4”

37-1/2”

46-1/2”