Keystone (architecture)

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Ornamental keystone over portal
Ornamental keystone over portal
Multiple decorative keystones, Sorunda Church, Nynäsham
Multiple decorative keystones, Sorunda Church, Nynäsham
The York Minster Chapter House ceiling
The York Minster Chapter House ceiling
Vault keystone in church of Virgin Mary in Chełmno
Vault keystone in church of Virgin Mary in Chełmno
Keystones with tracery at Lierne vault of the Liebfrauenkirche, Mühlacker 1482.
Keystones with tracery at Lierne vault of the Liebfrauenkirche, Mühlacker 1482.

A keystone is the architectural piece at the crown of a vault or arch and marks its apex, locking the other pieces into position. This makes a keystone very important structurally.[1][2] In an arch, the keystone is usually larger than the voussoirs that make up the arch and may serve primarily an aesthetic purpose. Some say that a keystone is not as important structurally as the voussoirs, since the removal of any of the voussoirs would cause the arch to collapse but this is not necessarily true of the keystone.[3]

Old keystones can decay due to vibration, a condition known as bald arch.

In a vault, keystones may mark the intersections of tracery.

Dropped keystone at Colditz Castle in a Mannerist arch.
Dropped keystone at Colditz Castle in a Mannerist arch.

Mannerist architects of the 16th century enjoyed building an arch with a slightly dropped keystone as seen below in example at Colditz Castle.

The term is used figuratively to refer to the central supporting element of a larger structure, such as a theory or an organization, without which the whole structure would collapse.[2] Example: Trade is the keystone of modern civilization.

The state of Pennsylvania is called "the keystone state" because of its central location and commercial and political importance among the colonies. The notched keystone shape is sometimes used as a logo for the state. From this, the keystone shape became the logo of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

  1. ^ Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture - Keystone. University of Pittsburg. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  2. ^ a b keystone. Merriam Webster. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  3. ^ Windows and More About Arches. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
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