A corbel is a projecting block of stone, timber or brick that springs out from a wall to support a beam, statue, cornice or overhanging structure, transferring the load down through the wall. The corbel is one of the oldest structural and decorative solutions in architecture for transferring loads to a wall.
Function of a corbel
The corbel fulfils both a load-bearing and a decorative role:
- Load support — a beam end, joist or overhang rests on the corbel
- Load distribution — the stone spreads point loads over a larger area of wall
- Decoration — especially in Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, often richly carved
- Cantilever enabling — a projection extends beyond the wall
Types of corbels
- Simple corbel — a rectangular or chamfered block
- Moulded corbel — with concave or convex profiles
- Figural corbel — featuring human, animal or floral motifs (head, caryatid, foliage)
- Timber bracket — used in half-timbered buildings and historic interiors
Applications
Corbels appear in:
- Beam ends — a timber summer beam rests on a corbel against the wall
- Cornices and gutters — a projecting cornice is supported by a row of corbels
- Bay windows and balconies — a cantilever projects and is supported by brackets
- Statues and sculpture — in churches they support figures or vault ribs
- Historic facades — as a keystone beneath a vault rib or in a wall arch
Difference between lintel and corbel
A lintel is laid horizontally above an opening; a corbel projects from the wall and carries a point load. The terms ‘corbel’, ‘bracket’ and ‘console’ are often used interchangeably, but in heritage practice ‘corbel’ usually refers to the structural function while ‘console’ implies an ornate decorative front.
Related terms
- Bracket
- Console
- Lintel
- Cantilever
- Capital
- Beam end
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