# What is Flute Filling (Cabling)?
**Flute filling — also called cabling or rhabdosis — is a solid, convex infill applied to the lower section of the flutes (grooves) on a column shaft.** It typically covers the bottom third of the column height and is characteristic of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.
## Form and Execution
The filling is a convex (rounded) profile that fits precisely into the concave (hollow) flute:
– It runs from the base of the column upward and ends with a rounded or pointed termination
– Its surface sits flush with the fillets (flat strips) between the flutes
– Above the filling, the flute continues as an open groove
## Why Use Flute Filling?
– **Protection** — the lower part of a column is most vulnerable to damage from knocks and wear. The filling makes the profile more robust
– **Aesthetics** — the filling creates a visual transition between the smooth base and the fluted upper section
– **Reinforcement** — the sharp edges of open flutes are fragile; the filling prevents chipping
## Application
Flute fillings are found on classical buildings with Ionic or Corinthian columns, Renaissance architecture, neoclassical buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries, and modern interpretations of classical design.
## Related Terms
– Flutes (cannelures)
– Column
– Classical orders
– Ionic
– Corinthian
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