What is a pointed arch frieze?
A pointed arch frieze is a mostly horizontal wall feature made up of a row of small, linked pointed arches. It is a type of arched frieze (in German Spitzbogenfries, in Dutch spitsboogfries): a decorative band on a facade, usually just below the eaves or gutter, along a gable or as an articulating band on a tower. Where the round-arched frieze belongs to Romanesque architecture, the pointed arch frieze marks the transition to Gothic (Romano-Gothic) and Gothic itself. It is typical of the brick Gothic churches of northern Germany and of medieval brick churches in the northern Netherlands, such as in Groningen and Friesland.
Features
- Small, repeated arches. Each arch consists of two short circle segments meeting at a point at the top, just like a full-size pointed arch.
- Slightly projecting or recessed. The arches sit slightly in front of or behind the wall face, creating a shadow line.
- Supports. The arches often rest on small corbels or run into pilaster strips (narrow vertical wall strips).
- Material. In brickwork the arches are formed from cut bricks or purpose-made special shapes; in natural stone they are carved from blocks.
Application
- Record first. Measure and photograph the frieze before any repair. Draw at least one arch at full size; in old facades the arches often differ from one another.
- Matching units. Replace damaged bricks or stones with units of similar size, colour and hardness. Special shapes usually have to be made to order or cut by hand.
- Match the mortar. In historic masonry, use a mortar that is not harder than the brick or stone, so that cracks form in the joint rather than in the units.
- Check drainage. A frieze directly below the gutter takes a lot of water. Check the gutter and eaves, or the damage will soon return.
Common mistake: repairing a pointed arch frieze with hard cement mortar or mismatched modern bricks. It stands out immediately and can cause frost damage to the old units.
Related terms
- Pointed arch
- Round-arched frieze
- Interlaced arch frieze
- Frieze
- Gothic architecture
- Romano-Gothic
- Corbel
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