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Southern Home Friezes

One of the many decorative flourishes of the Southern Antebellum home was the frieze, an elaborate decorative band on the front exterior of a home, located below the cornice molding and above the architrave (the main beam over the columns). Whether plainly painted or decorated with designs or carvings, the frieze boosted the thickness of the entablature—the area supported by the columns—lending classical dignity to a home.

The frieze traces its roots back to ancient Grecian and Roman architecture, where it was sometimes used to depict a story using carved scenes in a series of panels.

At the Greek temple Parthenon, for example, the famous frieze depicts the “Great Panathenaia,” an ancient and important Athenian festival, honoring the deity Athena. Similarly, the United States Capital building contains a frieze depicting scenes of American history. Friezes on the typical Southern home were not carved scenes such as these, but that’s not to say they don’t tell a story about Southern homes. Their inclusion reveals the Southerners’ knowledge of classical architecture and their desire to showcase their sophistication on the exterior of their homes. Purely a decorative element, the frieze on Greek Revival-style homes often was painted white and left plain. If it was carved, natural designs such as a leaf motif were popular.

Today, the frieze is still a common element on many classical architectural styles that incorporate columns or pilasters, including Classical Revival, Greek Revival, and Colonial Revival.

• Links for Custom Friezes or Supplies.
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