What is a ressaut?
A ressaut is a place where a horizontal moulding, such as a cornice or the moulding above a door, projects forward locally to follow a projecting vertical element. If a pilaster, avant-corps (risalit) or console stands out slightly from the facade, the moulding above it must also stand out slightly. That forward break in the moulding is the ressaut. In Dutch, a moulding that does this is called verkropt (the break itself is a verkropping), with older alternatives such as verstekt, omgetrokken and (om)gekornist; kornis is an old Dutch word for cornice.
Second meaning: with a crank
The Dutch word verkropt is also used for a part that is bent at an angle or with a crank. A cranked handle has a bend in it, and on a cranked hinge the leaf is bent so that a door or cupboard door can swing over the frame or side panel (an overlay door). You mainly come across this meaning in door and window hardware and furniture fittings.
Where do you see ressauts?
- Classical facades: the cornice breaks forward above each pilaster, so the rhythm of the pilasters continues in the cornice.
- Door and window surrounds with projecting side pieces.
- Cabinets and organ cases: a cornice with ressauts follows the projecting parts of the cabinet below.
- Interior mouldings: ceiling mouldings that run around a chimney breast or projecting column.
Construction and tips
- Every ressaut has two external and two internal corners. In timber mouldings these are usually cut as mitres. Cut a test piece first, because with a heavily profiled moulding a small deviation shows immediately.
- Short pieces first: the return piece of a ressaut is often only a few centimetres long. Cut it from a long length and only glue it once it fits.
- In restoration: copy the existing profiles exactly. A ressaut is often the first thing to suffer from moisture, because it contains many joints and end grain. Make sure exterior work is well covered with lead or zinc.
Related terms
- Cornice
- Pilaster
- Avant-corps (risalit)
- Console
- Mouldings
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