Hand carved wooden embellishments make a handsome addition to ours homes.

Corbels: Corbels, sometimes called brackets, are used as ornamented supports under counters, mantels, and shelving. They are crafted in a variety of sizes and wood species. The design motif used on these hand carved pieces and other embellishments are typically acanthus leaves, grape clusters and basket weaves. You can find these beauties as small as 4 inches high and 3 inches wide to 36 inches high by 6 inches wide. One of my favorite corbels is the Lions head corbel. This corbel displays a large and proud lion's head.

If you click on the second image below you'll see a fine example of an acanthus leaf corbel. The third corbel sports a nice grape cluster with a lambs tongue below - yes that's right a lamb's tongue -a fairly common motif - click on the next image.

Appliqués: appliqués, sometimes called onlays, can be subdivided into rosettes, centers and scrolls, swags, and drops. Appliqués are designed to be affixed to flat surfaces. They can be used on mantel centers, cabinet door centers, pilaster centers, etc.

• Rosettes: rosettes usually have a radial symmetry though not necessarily round. Some rosettes are, in fact, star shaped, square and even rectangular. Ordinarily smaller, rosettes embellish center spaces or "fields". Click on the images below for a few great rosette samples.

• Centers: centers are used in similar fashion to rosettes; however, they will not be radially symetrtcal. Many are elongated horizonally though not all. The design motif used in centers is, more often than not, acanthus leaves, grape clusters and shells. You may find some of these as wide as 36" and as small as a foot or so across.

• Scrolls: scrolls describe the shape of these appliqués probably more so than their use. Scrolls have swirling patterns. I believe they are more often used to mirror one another. That is, they are designed as left-handed and right-handed. They are also use as corners to create a rectangular frame. And so they draw attention to the center of their frame.

• Swags: swags or used in similar fashion as centers, but they are shaped differently than centers. If you know what a swag lamp is, then you understand the general shape of the swag. Swags bow down in the center and have small drops on each end.

• Drops: drops are similar to centers as well as swags, however, instead of having a horizontal orientation they have a vertical orientation. Drops look great in the centers of vertical members such as mantel pilaster.

Ornamental friezes: friezes are carved moldings that are used to embellish fireplace mantels, range hoods and cabinetry. They are attached to flat surfaces.

Ornamental crown moldings: crown moldings, similar to friezes, are used to terminate the tops of cabinetry and range hoods. Of course, they can also be used between the wall and ceiling. They are a beautiful enhancement to coffered ceilings. One of the images to the right sports an egg and dart pattern - the other has a repeating pattern of acanthus leaves.

Plinths and Capitals: Of course you know what these are? Mantel legs, in particular, make nice backgrounds to show off pilaster ornamentation. Capitals and plinths are top and bottom terminals of applied columns. Most mimic the classic columns a Greece and Rome.

Now that you have become aquainted with many of these beautiful hand carved adorments I thought you might like to see a few images of finished works.

The most apparent element in the gold mantel is the Lion's head corbel. He is supportting a "field" with an applied oval shaped rossette. Above the rosette is a large crown moulding with carved acanthus leaves. The ornate moulding accross the center of the mantel is a wide frieze and in the very center of the mantel is a "center".

If you click on the second image you'll see an image of a coffered ceiling. The recesses of the ceiling are adorned with an acanthus crown moulding.

Click on third image and you'll notice a very nice application of using fluted corbels to support an eyebrow arch.

Make sure you click on the image for a full size view.

For the last image I'd like to point out the range hood in particular. The fluted corbels support the sides of the hood while the ornamenetal frieze crosses the top. A lovely carved crown adorns the top. The range hood would not be complete, though, without the lion's head applied dead center.