Appareil (bond)

The way stones, or bricks, are put together in a wall.
According to the visible pattern after brick laying, which in itself depends on how the various assises (layers or courses) are assembled, the bond will have a name like Flemish bond, English bond, etc.
In roman (Romanesque) architecture one distinguishes petit, moyen and grand appareil, q.v.
There are more subjects related to appareil.

English bond - Wikipedia

Appareil, grand (big regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have a height of approx. 12 inch or more.
The nef (nave) of the Saint-Symphorien in Sanvignes-les-Mines is made in grand appareil.
See also grand appareil (synonym).

Saint-Symphorien - Sanvignes-les-Mines

Appareil irrégulier, petit (small irregular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The small stones (max. 8 inches high) are assembled in a more or less random, irregular pattern.
The rather haphazardly spaced stones around the window are placed in petit appareil irrégulier.
See also petit appareil irrégulier (synonym).

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Appareil, moyen (medium regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have equal heights of between approx. 8 and 12 inches.
This bond has been used in the walls of the chapelle (chapel) de Coureau in Bray.
See also moyen appareil (synonym).

Chapelle de Coureau - Bray

Appareil régulier, petit (small regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have a height of max. 8 inch.
The clocher (bell tower) in the picture is made in petit appareil régulier.
See also petit appareil régulier (synonym).

Saint-Martin - Chapaize

Arête de poisson (herringbone bond)

More often this herringbone pattern is referred to as opus spicatum. It is a stone bond in the shape of a herringbone, and found in carolingien (Carolingian) and préroman (Pre-Romanesque) buildings. This bond is abundantly present in the walls of the Saint-Laurent in Tournus.
There is some confusion about this term in French Wikipedia. They distinguish "appareil en épi de blé" = stone bond in the shape of ears of wheat (opus spicatum) and "arête de poisson". The difference is that in case of arête de poisson the joint between the herringbones forms a straight line, while in opus spicatum it follows a zigzag line.
The picture shows the only remainig bit of wall of the original Sainte-Marie in Bonnay.
See also opus spicatum.

Sainte-Marie - Bonnay

Assise (course)

A horizontal layer of stones or bricks.
See also appareil.

La Tour Ronde - Cluny

Chaîne (chain bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

A vertical reinforcement in stone of a wall, in the shape of a pilastre (pilaster) on one side of the wall, level with the wall on the other side.
On the level side of the wall the strengthening looks like a chain, hence the name.
The sketch came from Wikipedia.
A chaîne is often used on corners of buildings.
In the picture a chain pattern on the corner of the Notre-Dame in Clessé.

Chaîne - Wikipedia

Notre-Dame - Clessé

Grand appareil (big regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have a height of approx. 12 inch or more.
The nef (nave) of the Saint-Symphorien in Sanvignes-les-Mines is made in grand appareil.
See also appareil, grand (synonym).

Saint-Symphorien - Sanvignes-les-Mines

Moyen appareil (average regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have equal heights of between approx. 8 and 12 inches.
This bond has been used in the walls of the chapelle (chapel) de Coureau in Bray.
See also appareil, moyen (synonym).

Chapelle de Coureau - Bray

Opus piscatum - entry withdrawn

 This term was used in the past in Wikipedia, but has been more or less withdrawn.
See opus spicatum and arête de poisson (synonym).

Opus spicatum (ears of wheat bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

It is a stone bond in the shape of a herringbone, and found in carolingien (Carolingian) and préroman (Pre-Romanesque) buildings.
There is some confusion about this term in French Wikipedia. They distinguish "appareil en épi de blé" = stone bond in the shape of ears of wheat (opus spicatum) and "arête de poisson". The difference is that in case of arête de poisson the joint between the herringbones forms a straight line, while in opus spicatum it follows a zigzag line.
It is also used in pavements.
The picture shows this pattern in a (recent) piece of brickwork in the chauffoir (calefactory) of the abbaye (abbey) of Fontenay.
See also Arête de poisson.

L'abbaye de Fontenay

Parement (bare stonework ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

Description of a wall, in which the individual stones are clearly visible.
I have chosen the term bare stonework to emphasize the difference with walls where the stones are hidden behind plasterwork.
The parement is clearly visible on the picture of the pignon (gabled wall) of the Écuries de Saint-Hugues in Cluny.

Écuries de Saint-Hugues - Cluny

Petit appareil irrégulier (small irregular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The small stones (max. 8 inches high) are assembled in a more or less random, irregular pattern.
The rather haphazardly placed stones around the window are placed in petit appareil irrégulier.
See also appareil irrégulier, petit (synonym).

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Petit appareil régulier (small regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have a height of max. 8 inch.
The clocher (bell tower) in the picture is made in petit appareil régulier.
See also appareil régulier, petit (synonym).

Saint-Martin - Chapaize