What is a Corbel?

A corbel is a projecting wall element that provides support or decoration.
It extends from a wall and carries weight above it.
The word corbel comes from Old French, meaning beak, referring to its shape.

Corbels have been used since the Stone Age.
They appear in Babylonian architecture, Romanesque buildings, and later periods.
Some of the finest examples are found in classical and Victorian architecture.

What does a corbel look like?

A corbel is a solid piece that projects from a wall.
It can be simple or elaborately carved.
Many have a beak-like appearance or an S-shaped scroll bracket form.

Decorated corbels may feature carved foliage, motifs, or other figures.
Victorian corbels are often richly carved and ornate.
Modern corbel designs tend to be cleaner and more minimal.

What is the purpose of a corbel?

The main purpose of a corbel is to provide support.
It helps carry superincumbent weight from roofs, arches, or parapets.
This makes it a load-bearing structural element.

Corbels also act as decorative features.
They enhance architectural style while still adding wall support.
In some buildings, they are purely decorative.

Structural vs decorative corbels

Structural corbels are weight bearing.
They support arches, corbel vaults, window sills, or roof elements.
These are often embedded into the wall for strength.

Decorative corbels focus on aesthetic appeal.
They appear under mantels, shelves, or internal features.
Many property owners use them to enhance interiors.

Traditional corbels and historical styles

Corbels appear in Romanesque architecture and classical tradition.
They are common in corbel arches and corbel vaults.
These forms rely on stacked projecting elements for support.

During the Victorian era, corbels became more decorative.
Victorian corbels often feature ornate designs and carved detail.
They were widely used on brick buildings and parapets.

Mission corbels later introduced simpler, block-like forms.
Each architectural style developed its own corbel designs.
This created various styles across regions and periods.

Materials used in corbels

Corbels are made from stone, wood, metal, or brick.
Stone corbels are common in load-bearing external structures.
They are durable and used in traditional buildings.

Wooden corbels are popular indoors.
They are lighter and easier to carve.
Many feature decorative scrolls or carved arches.

Metal corbels appear in contemporary architecture.
They provide support with a slimmer profile.
Often used where decoration is minimal.

Plaster corbels are mainly decorative.
They are not load bearing and do not provide structural support.
Instead, they are used to enhance interior features.

They are lightweight and easy to mould.
This allows for ornate designs, including classical motifs and carved foliage.
Plaster corbels are often used in period-style interiors and restorations.

They commonly appear around ceilings, mantels, and wall features.
In modern projects, they are used to echo traditional architectural style.
This makes them suitable for later periods and contemporary interiors.

Corbels in contemporary architecture

Modern corbels are often simpler in form.
They focus on structure rather than ornament.
Clean lines suit contemporary architectural design.

Some designers still reference classical motifs.
Paris-trained designers often blend old and new styles.
This keeps corbels relevant in modern projects.