About This Arch
A corbel is a structural extrusion from a wall that helps support the weight of other elements. Corbelled arches are created by gradually spanning courses of stone or brick out from the previous layer until an arch is formed. They are not entirely self-supporting and therefore known as a false arch.
Corbelled arches appear in the early history of most cultures from the pyramids of Ancient Egypt to the Ancient passage tombs in Ireland. They are found in Syria, India, Cambodia, Greece, Turkey, as well as throughout pre-Columbian Mesoamerican especially in architecture of the Mayan civilization. Corbelled arches reappeared in Gothic revival styles such as Scottish baronial.
The filming location for Luke Skywalker’s hiding place in Star Wars Episode VII was the medieval buildings on the small island of Skellig Michael off the coast of Ireland that use corbelled arches.
The photo above is a previous version of this design
Materials & Process
Material: 18mm (3/4″) Birch Plywood (B/BB)
Process: Machine Cut with CNC Wood Router
Finish: Sanded / Satin Poly
Dimensions
Metric: 280mm x 280mm x 450mm
Imperial: 11.02″ x 11.02″ x 17.71″
The Arch Series
Arches were first used to construct underground tunnels, drainage systems, and to span over windows and doorways. These arches could only support small openings as ancient walls were extremely heavy. Pointed arches were different. They allowed for thinner walls to be constructed due to vertical structural loads being carried more efficiently to the ground. Lighter walls meant more windows that could be taller and wider. Indoor spaces subsequently changed from being very dark to very bright. Arches became more decorative over time as structural concerns were easier to overcome. The thirty-two arches in this collections span thousands of years on all continents. You can easily find several types of arch walking around any major city. Arches provided an essential stepping stone in creating the world we live in today.
