Ajouré (ajoure)

See arcature; ajouré is used as opposed to aveugle (blind).
These claustras (ajoure tiles) can be found in the wall of a chapelle (chapel) of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Archivolte (archivolt)

This archivolt, the outmost arc (arch) in the picture is situated above the tympan (tympanum) of the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Montceaux-l'Etoile.

Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul - Montceaux-l'Etoile.

Astragale (astragal)

The ring between the top of a colonne (column) and the underside of the corbeille (capital head) is called astragal.
According to Wikipedia the astragal is normally a part of the chapiteau (capital), whilst in classical antiquity it was a part of the column.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Aveugle (blind)

Aveugle is used as opposed to ouvert (open) or ajouré (ajoure).
These blind arcatures are to be found on walls of Canterbury Cathedral.
See arcature.

Canterbury Cathedral

Bandeau (cornice)

An ornamental cornice, protruding, but not much, from the plane it is attached to.
This bandeau, supported from corbeaux (corbels), can be found on the wall of the chœur (choir) in the Saint-Bonnet in Saint-Bonnet-de-Cray.

Saint-Bonnet - Saint-Bonnet-de-Cray

Bande lombarde (Lombard band)

A wall decoration of pilastres (pilasters) or lésènes (lesenes) not protruding much from the wall, connected at the top by a series of small arcs (arches).
The name comes from the migrant artisans and builders who brought this decoration over from their homeland Lombardy.
A simple form can be seen in the picture shown at baie géminée (twin opening); the picture below shows the very decorative effect obtained on the façade (facade) of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Base (base)

An ornamental cornice at the bottom of a colonne (column) or pilier (pillar).
The base rests on the socle or plinth of the column.
The picture shows a free-standing column in the doyenné of Saint-Hippolyte (Bonnay).

Doyenné de Saint-Hippolyte (Bonnay)

Billettes (roller pattern ©)

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

Decorative elements in the shape of cylindrical rollers, often placed in a chessboard pattern.
The billettes above the feuillage (leaf patterns) on the chapiteau (capital) are to be found in the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Boudin (torus)

A ring at the bottom of a colonne (column), more or less the same as an astragale (astragal).
Boudin means literally black pudding.
These columns are to be found in the déambulatoire (ambulatery) of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité in Bois-Sainte-Marie.
See also tore (synonym).

Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité - Bois-Sainte-Marie

Cannelure (fluting)

Cannelures are the vertical shallow grooves in a colonne (column).
Although well known from Greek and Roman columns, they are also used in roman (Romanesque) columns.
In the picture the (Roman) mauseleum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence (13).
See also pilastre cannelé.

Mausolée - Saint-Remy-de-Provence

Chapiteau (capital)

An often richly decorated piece of stone, topping a colonne (column), pilastre (pilaster) or pilier (piller).
In the picture a beautifully decorated capital in the former priorale (priory church) in Anzy-le-Duc.
See also abaque, astragale, corbeille and tailloir.

Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Sainte-Croix et Notre-Dame - Anzy-le-Duc

Claire-voie (window gallery ©)

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

Claire-voie has in civil architecture yet another meaning.
The beautifully decorated window arcades of which one can still find quite a few in Cluny are also called claire-voies.
In the picture the claire-voie in 25 Rue de la République.

25 Rue de la République - Cluny

Claustra (claustra ©)

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

A number of ajouré (ajoure) tiles closing off a baie (opening).
In Rome I stumbled upon an impressive collection of claustras in the Basilica di Santa Sabina.
In my own collection I also found some of these tiles which have been used as decoration in the walls of one of the chapelles (chapels) of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.

Basilica di Santa Sabina - Rome

Saint-Philibert in Tournus

Colonne adossée (semi-freestanding column ©)

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

A circular colonne (column) which is not completely freestanding, but which "leans" against a wall or a pilier (pillar).
In the photo two decorated colonnes adossées in a portail (portal) of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Colonne engagée (semicircular engaged column)

Semicircular colonne (column), engaged to a wall or pilier (pillar).
This colonne engagée can be found against one of the pillars of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.
See also demi-colonne (synonym).

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Colonnette (short column ©)

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

A short colonne (column).
This colonnette can be found in one of the clochers (bell towers) of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Corbeille (head of capital ©)

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

The most elaborate part of a chapiteau (capital), often exuberantly decorated.
The corbeille is placed between astragale (astragal) and tailloir (abacus).
The picture shows one of the corbeilles with astragale from the chœur (choir) of Cluny III.

Farinier - Cluny

Corniche (cornice)

A corniche is a protruding cornice, often equipped with a profile or decorated, located at the top of a wall.
In the picture one of many beautiful corniches of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.
See also corbeau and modillon.

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Crochet (hook ornament ©)

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

Ornament in the shape of a stylized curved flower stem with flower or flower bud.
The shape resembles a hook or crochet hook, hence the name.
This ornament is often used on chapiteaux (capitals).
In the photo a baie (wall opening) in the clocher (bell tower) of the Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais in Ozenay.

Saint-Gervais et Saint-Protais - Ozenay

Crucifère (carrying a cross ©)

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

This is an adjective indicating that someone or something carries a cross.
In the picture the tympan (tympanum) of the Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens in Varennes-l'Arconce showing a lamb carrying a cross.

Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens - Varennes-l'Arconce