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| A Carved Supraporte | Supraporte ornament |
Carved Supraporte
(overdoor ornament)
Family coat of arms incorporated into a supraporte
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This blog entry is about the supraporte or overdoor ornament ( A decoration over a door) the various applications and techniques are discussed and also a short photo coverage 'the different stages of carving a supraporte' an assignment made for a Swiss client in 2015. (Family coat of arms incorporated into a supraporte)
A supraporte or overdoor (Latin: supra=over; porta=door) is a decoration applied over a door or over a portal.
The term “decoration” is interpreted on a broad
way. The decorations can be a painting, a fresco painted on the wall, a
sculpture or a carved or plastered relief.
Sometimes the painting is made in “grisaille”
style. That is, the 3D picture is in one color (black or brown) in different
shades and is imitating sculptures in stone. A relief work, embossment, mostly
to be found in the Rococo cartouche at the “supraporte”.
Embossment may also be found integrated with the
lintel of the door frame.
A supraporte in the form of a flat
triangle is called tympanum.
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| Carved overdoor ornament with painting |
A supraporte could be found –taking into
consideration the height of the ceiling- in a horizontal or in a vertical
position. For example, the overdoor of an exterior door or portal can even
reach to the roof.
A supraporte for an inside door is not only
adapted to the height of the ceiling, but can incorporate work that also
represents the origin of the owner of the respective room or the building in
which it is located.
In the old times it was extremely important to
show the social position of the owner, and the supraporte was a good way to
show it.
The (self) glorification of the owner/resident could show his/her
monogram or the family coat of arms, being the central role in the entire
composition of the ornaments of the supraporte.
In de Palace of Versailles you could find
several rooms that have the crossed L of Louis XIV or the three lilies of
France, a glorification of the country and of the king.
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| Supraporte with Painting |
The decorations and ornaments of a (wooden)
supraporte may be use in a different way. A door trim for a music room (some
rich people has it), could be decorated with musical instruments. The same
theme can also be incorporated in the over door, design that every visitor could
instantly identify the function of the room.
Other government or secular buildings with their
own and specific function, demonstrate again their own importance with the use
of the supraporte. So the glorification or function will be shown in a central
cartouche.
For example, through the use of attributes in a
trophy, like “law”, “science”, “army”, the supraporte works as a way to make
emphasis and to be the focal point; the visitor will be aware where he is
standing.
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| Coat of arms incorporated into a supraporte |
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| Château de Versailles | A decoration above a door |
Worship buildings have –of course- other themes;
so there are religious images in bas relief carved, locating or not in an oval
cartouche.
But there are also trophies with religious
attributes, such as the following: candles, candlesticks, chalices,
bibles, censers… which are a central focal point in the composition.
In each style period, from the Renaissance you
can find the use of the over door. Usually in castles and residences, and later
in major civil houses and government buildings; but always adapted to the
mentality and way of decoration and ornaments.
For this reason, the decorations
vary from country to country, and have its own characteristics.
Nowadays, it is possible to find a supraporte
with a family photo, a religious sign or paintings; unconsciously connecting
you to an ancient tradition of over doors. In that case, it is not functional
but decorative in nature.
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| Supraporte - overdoor with ornaments (Bamberg Residence) |
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| Versailles | A supraporte in stone | Bas Relief with putti and attributes war 'theme' |
Commission.
In 2015 I had the honor to carve several supraportes. These upper pieces were made of oak wood and created in a vertical constructional and decorative part for a number of doors. This beautiful project was done for a private residence in Switzerland.
The central motif in these over doors represents
the coat of arms of my client. The following picture will give you a short
impression, “the stages of the process” of this commission.
Translation, Lis Alvarado
The
carving of a supraporte in white oak.
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| Supraporte | Carving a wooden supraporte | Craftsmanship |
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| Carving a wooden supraporte | Overdoor ornament |
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| Family coat of arms incorporated into a supraporte |
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| A overdoor ornament | Carved supraporte |
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