Although representing a high degree of the wood-carvers' art, the other
doorway is rather over-ornate in its detail. The reeded ovolo is again
prominent, and the fascia of the architrave of the arch bears a familiar
decorative motive consisting of groups of five flutes in alternation
with a conventionalized flower. The dentil course of the pedimental
cornice takes the form of a peculiar reeded H pattern which is repeated
in much finer scale on the edge of the corona, the abacus of the
capitals and its continuation across the lintel of the door. Least
pleasing of all is the fluting of the frieze portion of the entablature
sections with three sets of drillings suggestive of festoons.
Another admirable type of doorway, of which there are many examples in
Philadelphia, frames the high, round-headed arch of the doorway with
tall, slender engaged columns supporting a massive entablature above the
semicircular fanlight over the door. Almost without exception the
entablature is some variation of the Ionic order with denticulated
bed-mold in the cornice, plain flat frieze and molded architrave, the
latter sometimes enriched by incised decorative bands. The columns are
Doric and smooth. They stand in front of more widely spaced pilasters,
which are virtually a broadening of the casings of the door frame, and
which support a second entablature back of the first and somewhat wider.
The two combined form a doorhead with projection almost equal to a hood,
but the effect is far more stately.
Such a doorway in its simplest form, with columns tapering considerably
toward the top, in accordance with a prevalent local custom of the time,
is to be seen on the Powel house, Number 244 South Third Street. The
sash divisions of the fanlight are unique, suggesting both Gothic
tracery and the lotus flower. The single, high eight-panel door recalls
many having a similar arrangement of molded and raised panels, but
differs from most of them in that the lock rail is about double the
width of the two rails above.
Narrower, with more slender columns, and thus seemingly higher, is the
doorway of the Wharton house, Number 336 Spruce Street. While the
entablature is generally similar, the moldings adhere less closely to
the classic order, and the same is true of the exceptionally slender
columns. An enriched ovolo suggesting a quarter section of a cylinder
and two disks in alternation lends added refinement to the paneled jambs
and the architrave casing of the arch with its hand-carved keystone. The
fanlight is of simple but pleasing pattern, and the eight-panel door is
of characteristic design.
At Number 301 South Seventh Street the doorway itself strongly resembles
that of the Powel house, except that it is higher, narrower and rather
lighter in scale. However, the wing flights of stone steps on the
sidewalk leading to a broad landing before the door and the handsome
wrought-iron rail lend individuality and rare charm to this notable
example of a familiar type.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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