Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
cavetto molding
References
Images
Examples of common molding styles.
Britannica AI Icon

cavetto molding

architecture
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

Examples of common molding styles.
Examples of common molding styles.

A cavetto is a type of molding in architecture characterized by its concave curve, which approximates a quarter circle. This architectural element is used to define, transition, or outline edges and surfaces. The term "cavetto" originates from the Italian word "cavo," meaning hollow or concave.12

Moldings, including the cavetto, evolved from structural functions in prehistoric building to decorative elements in monumental architecture. They were translated from materials like wood to stone, becoming refined and contributing to the decorative system of buildings. The profile of a molding, such as the cavetto's concave curve, is designed to create specific shadow effects.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. cavetto
  2. molding

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.