The decorations of a door-way commonly consist either of an architrave surrounding it, with or without a cornice, or with a complete entablature : consoles are sometimes intro duced, flanking the architrave jambs, and supporting the ends of the cornice. When the architrave jambs are flanked with pilasters, whether of the orders, or of some emblematical form, the projections of their bases and capitals are always less than that of the surrounding architrave, and the archi trave over the capitals is similar to that over the door itself. Doors are sometimes decorated with one of the five orders, and in very considerable buildings, the entrance is adorned with a portico, so as to resemble an ancient Grecian temple.
In embellishing the piers of gates, or outer doors, it should be remembered. as a general rule, that as the pier is itself only an inferior building, it should never be richer than the front of the house. As for instance, where the front of the latter is ornamented with Dorie columns, the Ionic should not be found in the piers ; and it would be better to omit columns altogether, than use the Tuscan order tir piers in any case. It' the Ionic or Corinthian orders be used in the front of the house, the Doric or lonie may he with introduced in the piers. Niches are almost always introduced into piers, for which reason the columns do better on pedes tals, because the continued moulding from their cap limns an agreeable ornament under the niche.
The wooden closures by which the apertures are opened or closed, come within the province of the joiner : these are properly the doors, and are either framed, battened, or !edged, as described in the following articles. In ordinary,
and even in good houses, frequently, the doors are of deal ; in noblemen's mansions, they are often of mahogany, solid or veneered, and sometimes of wainscot, especially when the building is in the antique style. Apartments reserved for the reception of money, plate, jewels, &c. are usually secured with iron doors ; and in the descriptions of ancient temples, we read of doors of ivory, brass, silver, and gold.
Doors, Baize, the inner door of an apartment, covered with baize for securing the room from the influx of the cold air.
Doorts, Batten, though formerly much in use, are now confined to buildings in the pointed style of architecture. They consist of boards glued together, to the size of the aperture, with styles, rails, and munnions, made of battens, nailed upon them, so as to give the appearance of a framed door. This may be done, either on one or both sides ; and the door is accordingly denominated single or double battened. The vertical joints should be hid by the munnions of the framing ; and the latter, instead of being glued, should be bolted through to a framing behind, which will make them very strong. The large gates and doors of ancient British edifices are thus constructed. The practice of imitating the framing of Grecian and Roman doors, is not, however, to be recommended in modern times, especially if no bolts be used : for the stuff, however well seasoned, will be subject to the influence of the atmosphere, and shrink or swell, as the air is dry or damp. It is scarcely necessary to remark, that this evil will be enhanced in proro•tion as the wood is less seasoned.