Architectural millwork, drawn to profile
Ogee — cyma reversa section — drawn to profile, plate 01 of 12
A double curve, convex above and concave below, that lifts an edge without adding apparent weight. It is the section most often asked for on a panel edge and on the sticking of a cabinet frame, where the upper convex member catches the light and the lower hollow holds a shadow against the panel.
Profiles
Twelve plates, drawn to section
Current reading
Periods and their profiles
| 1700-1780 | GeorgianBolection panel mouldings, heavy built-up cornices, wide stile-and-rail panelling, raised panels with deep bevels. |
|---|---|
| 1780-1820 | FederalLighter, flatter sections; reeded and fluted casings, delicate ovolo and bead sticking, slender window muntins. |
| 1820-1860 | Greek RevivalBroad flat casings with corner and plinth blocks, plain fascias, restrained ogee and cavetto members. |
| 1860-1900 | VictorianDeep, layered profiles; heavy scotia and torus sections, moulded plinths, machine-run stock in long runs. |
| 1880-1955 | Colonial RevivalReworked Georgian and Federal profiles at reduced scale; built-up crowns, panelled libraries, six-panel doors. |
The shop
The New England Woodworking Company has been committed to providing quality architectural millwork since its establishment in 1996. Working with architects, designers, contractors and home owners, New England Woodworking’s projects have been included in some of the finest homes in the New England area. Projects include, but are not limited to, kitchens, libraries, media rooms, custom closets, entry doors, windows and radius millwork. New England Woodworking is committed to taking your project from the conceptual stage to the finished project.
At the bench
- Asher Benjamin, The American Builder’s Companion — the plate book from which a great deal of New England profile work descends.
- Owen Biddle, The Young Carpenter’s Assistant — early American framing, stair and moulding practice.
- Batty Langley, The City and Country Builder’s and Workman’s Treasury of Designs — the Georgian source for many of the sections still asked for.
- R. Bruce Hoadley, Understanding Wood — movement, moisture and grain, which decide what a panel is allowed to do.
- Architectural Woodwork Institute, Architectural Woodwork Standards — the reference the trade uses for grades and tolerances.
See the seven series of work, or read a series in full, beginning with Kitchens.