A Guide to Decorative Finials and Ridge Crests
In this article, we’ll look at a few examples of finials and ridge crests in order to give you a sense of how they look in the field. Our goal is always to ensure that you receive the home transformation of your dreams.
Decorative Finials
The finial typically serves to accent the top of a structure. Consisting of a base component and a spire component, the origins of the decoration go back to Greek and Roman culture. Finials are also seen in temples throughout Asian architecture. But the modern finial really exploded in popularity throughout the Renaissance and Victorian eras. The Victorians used a variety of finial spire styles including but not limited to the sphere, the spike, the fleur-de-lys, and the crown. These elements would be added to the tops of orangeries and conservatories resulting in an impressive appearance. Let’s take a look at a few examples:
Here we see three finial styles using the classic ball and spire design.
Triangular base elements are very popular.
This set of finials features rectangular or columnar base elements.
As decorative elements, finials are available in virtually any style.
Finials can be added to conservatories, greenhouses, orangeries, and other glass structures.
This set of finials features a New England ball and dome, a spiked dome, and a modified crescent.
Finials can be constructed out of copper, steel, aluminum, or even wood and glass!
This colonial orangery located in Shrewsbury, MA features a hip-style skylight and finial.
The pairing of old world design with modern construction is gorgeous.
This New Hampshire glass conservatory designed and constructed by Sunspace features a lovely finial.
The bold spike and sphere create a classic look.
Decorative Ridge Crests
Like the finial, an architectural ridge crest is a design feature intended to heighten and dramatize the already impressive visual look of your brand new glass structure. But unlike the finial, ridge cresting emphasizes the linearity of your structure. As an ornamental ridge-cap, the ridge crest is usually fixed atop the ridge of a pitched roof. Although lacking the intense vertical peak of the finial, there’s still a great diversity of styles available to interested customers. Each peak in a ridge crest reinforces the overall pattern, which can be comprised of multiple simple arcs, fleurs-de-lys, spikes, or other shapes. Here are some examples of ridge crests employed in Sunspace Design’s New England construction projects to date:
This stunning starburst pattern ridge crest was part of a greenhouse we built in Boston, MA.
Nestled in the heart of Beacon Hill, this custom glass greenhouse impresses onlookers.
Sunspace crewmen are still hard at work finishing this new glass enclosure in Weston, MA.
The finial and ridge crest located centrally along the roof create a gorgeous effect. Check out that shadow!
Ridge crests like these can be introduced to a large number of the projects we complete.
Interested? Contact us and ask about our options. Your goals are our goals.