Gargoyles and chimeras. CNC manufacturing. Models.
Gargoyles and chimeras are rarely found on the roofs of buildings in Russia. But in Europe there are a great many of them. They can be different: funny, scary, unhappy, aggressive, mythical or realistic. What kind of creatures are these, why were their sculptures placed on the roofs? We’ll talk about this in today’s article!
Let us also remind you that with the help of our models presented on this site, you can use CNC machines to make absolutely any monuments, sculptures, carved three-dimensional images, statues and figurines that decorate the interior and exterior of buildings. A huge range of ready-made models will help you make products to suit every taste. And developing custom models will further expand your capabilities.
About chimeras and gargoyles, who are they?
These creatures, most often made of stone, were installed on the roofs of temples, houses, and public buildings.
Gargoyle - according to one version, this is a creature similar to a snake and a dragon. Previously, they lived on the banks of the Seine and attacked ships. The monster spewed out fire and streams of water. Saint Roman was able to defeat the Gargoyle with the help of the cross and prayer. The monster was burned at the stake, but her throat turned out to be heat-resistant, so it was attached to the Rouen Cathedral as a warning to all evil spirits.
According to another version, “gargoyles” is a word denoting any drain; such drains were simply depicted in the form of some kind of people, animals, or monsters. Such drains were installed on the roofs of buildings in a horizontal position; the water fell at some distance from the walls and did not wash away the foundation. In some cases, gargoyles had a funny appearance, depicting birds, freaks, and mythical creatures. The craftsmen were given almost complete freedom.
When traditional gutters appeared on buildings, gargoyles remained a kind of decoration.
A chimera is a creature invented in antiquity (it was in ancient Greek myths that chimeras were first mentioned). Usually depicted with the head of one animal and the body of another.
In the Middle Ages, chimeras became allegories of sins and virtues. They were installed on the roofs of the building for several purposes: firstly, to scare away demons, and secondly, for the edification of the public, as a reminder that if people do not lead a righteous lifestyle, they can end up in hell with chimeras.
The most famous chimeras in architecture are those installed at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This is a whole gallery. Moreover, chimeras appeared here not during the construction of the Cathedral in the 12th century, but much later, after its restoration in the 19th century.
The majestic beauty of medieval buildings delights and fascinates. And the sculptures installed on these buildings play an important role in this.
Where in Russia can you see gargoyles and chimeras? Production today:
In Russia, chimeras are rare. These are rather isolated cases. And they belong less often to the neo-Gothic era, but more often to the modern era. They could be installed on estates, on gazebos.
This is most likely due to the fact that in Europe, gargoyles and chimeras are mostly installed on Catholic and Lutheran churches. And the Orthodox religion was extremely disapproving of sculptural images on the facades of buildings, especially those of demonic origin. In Russia, this was not only considered bad taste, but also caused negativity on the part of the tsarist authorities. Therefore, even on churches and churches in Russia there were no monsters.
Gargoyles and chimeras can now be found on the walls and roofs of medieval-style buildings. Can decorate cottages and private houses. Today there are no strict restrictions and prohibitions.
Nowadays, such creatures can be made using computer numerical control (CNC) machines.
The machine works perfectly with stone, wood and other materials and allows you to create a product of any complexity in the shortest possible time. With extreme accuracy, it repeats the decor specified by the program on the material. And the program, in turn, is formed based on a 3D model of the future product.
You can purchase models on our website. Ready-made and to order. See sections: Figurines lions tigers sphinxes, Antique and historical statues, Figurines heroes, monsters and demons and others.
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