The Balauster.

The Teiminus. 225

Plate 138. The Balauster.
1. Square plan, Italian Renascence, Sta. Maria della Salute,
Venice.
2. A system of square Balausters, Palazzo Pesaro, Venice.
3. Circular plan, Modern Italian.
4. Wood, Italian Eenascence, stalls in Sta. Maria Novella, Flo-
rence.
5. Modem French, Architect Roux, Paris.
6
7. Square wooden, (Bethke: "Der decorative Holzbauer").
8
9. Modern, terracotta.
The Terminus. (Plate 139.)
The Terminus is a pilaster -like support, the fundamental form
of which is characterized by tapering downwards in a manner re-
calling an inverted Obelisk. The name is derived from the fact that
similiar constructions were used in the Antique as milestones and to
mark the Terminations of fields, &c. The Terminus consists of the
profiled base, not infrequently supported on a special pedestal (figs. 3
and
7);
the shaft tapering downwards and usually ornamented with
festoons (figs.
3, 4, 5, 10);
and the capital, which., is often re-
placed by a bust or half- figure (figs.
4, 5, 9). In this latter
case, it assumes the appearance of a caryatid; and, as the bust is
that of Hermes (the God of letters), this application is often termed
a "Hermes". Standing isolated, it serves as a Pedestal for busts and
lamps, as a Post for railings, and in gardens and terraces. The last
was exceedingly popular in the Rococo period. Joined to the wall,
the Terminus often takes the place of the pilaster. This is especially
true of the furniture and small architectural constructions of the
Renascence period. It is also not uncommon on Utensils, e.
g.
fri
pods, handles of pokers, seals, <fec.
Pr^TE 139. The Terminus.
1. Upper part, antique, silver treasure of Hildesheim, Berlin
Museum, (obviously from a Roman tripod).
2. Stone Terminus bust, Italian Renascence, Villa Massimi, Rome,
(Raguenet).
3. Stone Terminus bust, German Renascence, mantel-piece, town-
hall, Liibeck.
4. Stone Terminus bust, German Renascence, Otto Heinrich build-
ing, Heidelberg Castle.
5. Stone Terminus bust, German Renascence, monument, church
of the castle, Pforzheim.
Meyer, Handbook of Omampnt 15