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modénature

English translation: mouldings

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:modénature
English translation:mouldings
Entered by: Angela Mott

10:13 Feb 21, 2013
French to English translations [PRO]
Architecture / Cathedral architecture
French term or phrase: modénature
This term appears in an article in a special edition of Le Nouvel Observateur (French news magazine) on the subject of cathedrals, mainly French Gothic ones. The article was written by a French art historian and is aimed at a general French readership. I am reading this just for my own interest, but am keen to understand it fully. Here is the source sentence:

‘Cependant, la nécessité d’engendrer une architecture entièrement voûtée tout en sauvegardant les habitudes visuelles propres aux monuments charpentés des Ve-Vie siècles, a certainement dominé la réflexion des maîtres qui, très vite, ont usé de la modénature – tous les éléments d’ornement -, du décor sculpté et des techniques de construction à des fins de spatialisation.’

As far as I can discover, ‘modénature’ has no direct equivalent in English. I think the author may have explained the term for the lay French reader in the phrase ‘tous les elements d’ornement’, so perhaps in this context the English equivalent would be something like ‘every type of decorative element’, but not being an expert in architecture I am not sure. I would welcome suggestions, especially from specialists in architecture.
Angela Mott
France
Local time: 11:38
mouldings
Explanation:
* decorative mouldings
Selected response from:

kashew
France
Local time: 11:38
Grading comment
Thank you Kashew. 'Decorative mouldings' makes the most sense in this particular context.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +3outline of a cornice
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
4mouldings
kashew
3 +1contouring
Mpoma


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
outline of a cornice


Explanation:
According to the GDT, this term is used to describe the outline of a cornice. Maybe there is no one-for-one term in English.

Sommaire des résultats en français : 3 fiches

modénature FR
bâtiment
[ + ]
Traitement ornemental de certains éléments structurels d'une construction, pour en exprimer la plastique.
Office québécois de la langue française, 1984
modénature FR • outline of cornice EN
bâtiment
[ + ]
Proportion et galbe des moulures d'une corniche.

Profil des moulures déterminant, par l'alternance des saillies et des retraits, des jeux d'ombre et de lumière.
1982
modénature FR
industrie du bois
Proportion, galbe des moulures.
Académie d'architecture

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Note added at 4 mins (2013-02-21 10:17:40 GMT)
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the problem with this suggestion is that it is not exactly what is described in the text afterwards, but then again, that may make it sufficient, precisely because an explanation follows!

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Local time: 11:38
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 7
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Nikki. Although I've selected another answer as the best one for this particular context, your answers are interesting and are worth bearing in mind in case I encounter this term again in a different context.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Catharine Cellier-Smart: the full dictionary translation I have is actually "(proportions and) outline (of cornice)"
13 mins
agree  Evans (X): The definition I have recorded in my own architecture glossary is "proportions and profile of a moulding". This might be safer as it covers other forms than cornices.
30 mins
  -> Given the description that follows, this may be useful!
agree  chriscfro: http://www.normannia.fr/modenature/
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
mouldings


Explanation:
* decorative mouldings

kashew
France
Local time: 11:38
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 99
Grading comment
Thank you Kashew. 'Decorative mouldings' makes the most sense in this particular context.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1650 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
contouring


Explanation:
This is a trendy architecture term Gallicised from the Italian "modanatura", meaning "moulding". I think the meaning has shifted in this transition. It would be possible to use "moulding" here, but I think there is a reason why the author has not used the FR "moulure", and that is, in my opinion, to make a deliberate point that the approach of the medieval architects can be compared to contemporary, groovy ones.

Mpoma
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:38
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
779 days
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