Period features

Frieze

A frieze is a horizontal decorative band, often near the top of a wall or as part of a fireplace or architectural composition.

In an interior, a frieze may run beneath the cornice or form part of a broader scheme of plasterwork, paint or joinery. The term can also describe a decorated band on a façade or over a doorway.

The detail matters when restoring a period Edinburgh room because a missing or interrupted band can change the balance of a wall. Later ceilings, partitions and repeated repainting may conceal parts of the original design.

When repairing a frieze, identify its material and repeating pattern before removing damaged sections. A frieze is the decorative band itself; cornicing is the moulding at the wall and ceiling junction.

Property types

Commonly found in

Tenement Georgian Townhouse Victorian Villa Georgian Flat Converted Flat

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