Enough Already

I'm cleaning out the garage, again. Really, I'm picking through the garage for stuff without much personal weightiness, to chuck. Scoping out the easy marks, because I don't want to get bogged down sifting through emotional souvenirs, considering their value and the likelihood of future contribution or use. The downsizing thing ain't easy.

My first target, magazine back issues, crates full, Fine Homebuilding, Old House Journal, International Photographer.

Hours later, I'm cross legged, reading articles on slate countertops, clear finish products, and an interview with John Alton. Damn, the downsizing thing ain't easy. I came across an article on a movie titled, An Ambush of Ghosts, shot in "the interior of an old Victorian house located near USC." I put a July 1992 issue of American Cinematographer aside, with a feature story on Batman Returns. My son likes Batman, and wouldn't you know there's a production still wherein a Bull's Eye window (see nearly every post for the last month) dominates the composition.

Once observed, noted, becomes ubiquitous.

Even More Revelation...

Defining L'eoil de boeuf led to the terms oculus, and roundels: small circular panels. No stranger to these, I went a snappin'.

In great numbers, adorning a paint deprived bargeboard.

Along the cornice beneath a Jerkinhead roof line (also known as a clipped gable, hipped gable, or Shreadhead).


(More Jerkinhead jamba in the upcoming Separated at Built post.)



At the bargeboard's end.

More Radiating...., or Revelation?

Sunday, between morning and late afternoon showings, I side-tripped over to Central Library for the latest photography installation, Play Ball! Images of Dodger Blue, 1958-1988. Included are several pre Dodger stadium images of Chavez Ravine.

I drifted upstairs to canvas recent periodicals, including the Spring issue of American Bungalow, featuring an excellent article by Jose Vazquez on Miami bungalows. The accompanying images included a house with a window, the likes of which I've described in numerous, recent posts as: elliptical with radiating keystones. Jose Vazquez's description included the term, l'oeil de boeuf, or bull's eye. Viola!

Later, I consulted my architectural dictionaries.
L'oeil de boeuf: a round or oval aperture.
L'oeil de boeuf: an oculus.
L'oeil de boeuf: a distinctive window in Mansard roofing.
L'oeil de boeuf: a Mansart Window.

I knew there was a reason to do all this reading.

Worlds Collide

Radiating keystones and an eyebrow dormer! Holy roller!

This caps a pair of recent obsessions, now back to the Shingle Style.

Is There Nowhere to Hide (continued)

More (mostly) elliptical (mostly) windows with radiating keystones.

Some of these apertures are round, rather than the ellipse shape. Some are louvered vents, not windows.

In masonry, the keystone (or key block) is the central, often embellished, voussoir (or wedge shaped piece) on an arch.




As in the case of the Eyebrow Dormers, some examples are made blind (see photo above) as home owners lack the resource (and sadly the interest) to repair elements for which standardized parts are unavailable.

Is there Nowhere to Hide?

Is there nowhere to hide from elliptical windows with radiating keystones?

Most are located in gables and dormers, but not always.

They appear on 19th century Colonial Revivals, early 20th century Craftsman dwellings, even 1930's Chateauesque apartment buildings. Not to mention, early American Federalist architecture.

Like other house parts, once identified, they become that obscure object of desire.

"Look another," I'll proclaim sometimes to the dog, sometimes to a passenger, head craned, eyes ill-advisedly divorced from the road. "There. There."

"No, up there."