Ashlar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ashlar is dressed stone work of any type of stone. Ashlar blocks are large rectangular blocks of masonry sculpted to have square edges and even faces. The blocks are generally 13 or 15 inches square, when smaller than 11 inches they are usually called "small ashlar".

Ashlar blocks are used in the construction of many old buildings as an alternative to brick. Generally the external face is smooth or polished, occasionally it can be decorated by small grooves achieved by the application of a metal comb, this is usually only used on a softer stone ashlar block. This decoration is known as Mason's drag.

 

 

 

Symbolically:

 

The Ashlar is the freestone as it comes from the quarry. The Rough Ashlar is the stone in its rude and natural state and is emblamatic of man in his natural state - ignorant, uncultivated and vicious. But when education has exerted it's wholesome influence in expanding his intellect, restraining his passions and purifying his life, he then is represented by the Perfect Ashlar which, under the skillful hands of workman, has been smoothed and squared and fitted for its place in the building.

 

ashlar Definition

ash·lar (as̸h′lər)

noun

  1. a square-cut building stone
  2. a thin, dressed, square stone used for facing masonry walls
  3. masonry made of either kind of ashlar

Etymology: ME assheler < OFr aisseler < aissele, shingle, dim. < ais, board < L assis, board, akin to asser, beam, plank

ashlar Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • tool: Tooled ashlar, terminating in slightly molded pilasters, and topped by a cornice.
  • rusticate: Rusticated granite ashlar and wrought iron Gothic style gates.
  • dress: This early work is of square, dressed, freestone ashlars.
  • face: The building is ashlar faced with a hipped roof.

Adjective modifier

  • red: Pevsner describes the building as being of red ashlar within.
  • polished: Duff House, the Fife Gates Pair of polished ashlar octagonal gatepiers with molded stepped caps supporting fine carved stone urns.
  • rough: The walls are faced with rough ashlar and the roofs are covered with tiles and lead.
  • yellow: The older sandstone remains weathered and discolored and recent repair work in fine grained yellow ashlar is clearly visible.
  • modern: West wall: splayed window with modern ashlar in embrasure.

Modifies a noun

  • quoin: North wall: Fabric A, with more modern masonry at higher level, and more uniform ashlar quoins also.
  • dressing: Squared rubble in small blocks with ashlar dressings in more or less the same color.
  • stonework: The ashlar stonework contrast sharply with the rendered side walls.
  • masonry: A change to ashlar masonry at the extreme east end of the nave.
  • sandstone: The façade to University Avenue is primarily of natural ashlar sandstone layered upon smooth white render.
  • block: Stone flagged floor; walls lined with ashlar blocks, presumably of late medieval date.

Noun used with modifier

  • sandstone: Fabrics: ' A ' is of sandstone ashlar, buff in color, medium to large in size, largely coursed.
  • granite: Barthol Chapel war memorial A simple small stone tablet on a pediment of darker granite ashlar.
  • stone: The church is solidly built of brick covered with stone ashlar some five inches thick overall.
  • limestone: His design for Chippenham was in Dutch Renaissance style, constructed in limestone ashlar with Welsh slate roofs.
  • freestone: This early work is of square, dressed, freestone ashlars.