<p>I don't know if this was intended but after looking for banded column style I ran into rustification or <a href="http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/styles/classical/features/rustication.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rustication</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Rustication</strong> is a form of exterior ornamentation particular to buildings in the classical style. It is defined by projecting stones with sunken joints or grooves conveying an air of deliberate roughness and strength.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That is not compelling but the article goes on to describe different kinds of rustication. It is a broad definition but a specific style of rustication is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Picked-work or a simple chiselling or chipping of the stone surface to produce a general rough effect </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Two of the examples on the page do my connection more justice. Click to enlarge in both cases.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tzM8E.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tzM8Es.png" alt="Rustication, York Water Gate"></a> <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/jTIO1.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jTIO1s.png" alt="Rustication, picked work"></a></p>

<p>It seems obvious from the photo in the question that this is not carved but it looks to be emulating picked work rustification. I can almost draw a line of symmetry down the middle of your picture but that might just be looking for a pattern that does not exist.  </p>

<p>Searching for images of rustication yields similar results. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T19:57:57.310Z
2017-06-19T19:57:57.310Z
Matt
<p>I was walking past an old building on Canal Street, NYC, and I saw this:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/GlTCl.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/szfegm.png" alt="peanuty patterned column"></a></p>

<p>Is there a term for the... peanuty pattern around this column? I can't remember the address of this building, though I am pretty sure <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/240_Centre_Street" rel="nofollow noreferrer">240 Centre Street</a> has a similar pattern (can't find a picture where it's visible, unfortunately). </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T20:00:46.537Z
I reduced the size of the initial image into a thumbnail that links to the image you originally had.
Matt
<technique-identification>
What is this decorative motif called?
Randoms
# What is this decorative motif called?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-15)

I was walking past an old building on Canal Street, NYC, and I saw this:

[![peanuty patterned column](https://i.sstatic.net/szfegm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/GlTCl.jpg)

Is there a term for the... peanuty pattern around this column? I can't remember the address of this building, though I am pretty sure [240 Centre Street](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/240_Centre_Street) has a similar pattern (can't find a picture where it's visible, unfortunately).

**Tags:** technique-identification

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I reduced the size of the initial image into a thumbnail that links to the image you originally had.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-06-19. Score: 4

I don't know if this was intended but after looking for banded column style I ran into rustification or [rustication](http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/styles/classical/features/rustication.html):

> **Rustication** is a form of exterior ornamentation particular to buildings in the classical style. It is defined by projecting stones with sunken joints or grooves conveying an air of deliberate roughness and strength.

That is not compelling but the article goes on to describe different kinds of rustication. It is a broad definition but a specific style of rustication is:

> Picked-work or a simple chiselling or chipping of the stone surface to produce a general rough effect

Two of the examples on the page do my connection more justice. Click to enlarge in both cases.

[![Rustication, York Water Gate](https://i.sstatic.net/tzM8Es.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/tzM8E.png) [![Rustication, picked work](https://i.sstatic.net/jTIO1s.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/jTIO1.png)

It seems obvious from the photo in the question that this is not carved but it looks to be emulating picked work rustification. I can almost draw a line of symmetry down the middle of your picture but that might just be looking for a pattern that does not exist.

Searching for images of rustication yields similar results.


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