Cornice

The cornice is the decorative horizontal molding that tops the building. Federal Style cornices are often decorated with dentils, or closely spaced, small rectangular blocks that, from a distance, resemble a row of teeth. In fact, the name is derived from the Latin word for tooth. Egg-and-dart moldings, a repeating pattern of egg-shaped moldings set in raised borders, are another common cornice embellishment. Federal Style cornices are not as prominent as those of the Georgian Era, in keeping with the more delicate proportions of the form.