Classical mouldings are the separate members that compose architectural sections such as bases, capitals and cornices and can be straight or curved in profile. These profiles are derived from the classical Orders (for additional information please see section “Classical orders and associated items”)

Such mouldings can be divided into five groupings :

• Crowning;
• Supporting;
• Binding;
• Separating;
• Prone

The profile types most common are the quarter round, the cove or cavetto, the torus, the cyma and cyma reversa.

The more simple mouldings of the quarter round; cove and torus follow the arc of a circle whilst the composite mouldings of the cyma; cyma reversa and scotia follow the outline of two or more circles. The fillet is most common as it serves the important purpose of separating the more important mouldings or to finish off a whole profile.