The capping mouldings consist of a fillet, facia, ovolo, fillet and cavetto. The facia is carried to the underside of the fillet in a curve, and its height is half the total height of the capping. The facia is supported by the ovolo, and a fillet and cavetto complete the capping.
The height of the course of mouldings at the top of the plinth should be divided into three, then the upper third will contain a cavetto moulding and fillet, and the remaining two-thirds an ogee and final fillet.
In the Ionic pedestal the plinth with its mouldings should occupy one-third the height and the capping one-fifth the remainder.
The mouldings are similar to those of the Doric pedestal, but a little more elaborate. In the capping a reversa is used under the top fillet and a small torus or bead is placed between the ovolo and the cavetto. In the mouldings of the plinth a similar bead is introduced above the ogee moulding.
The same general divisions as the Ionic will give the proportions of the Corinthian pedestal, the difference being that of the scale and the detail of the mouldings.
The capping may be divided into two. The top half consists of a fillet, reversa and facia, and the lower half a supporting cyma recta, a bead and a cavetto curve. The plinth mouldings are the same as those of the Ionic pedestal with the addition of a torus beneath the ogee. The height of this torus is one-fourth the total height and is about equal to that of the cavetto and bead together.
When the pedestal is employed the arch becomes proportionately larger. In the Doric order the columns are then spaced seven and a half diameters apart; in the Ionic seven and three quarters, and in the Corinthian eight diameters centre to centre.
The archivolt, the radius of which is determined by the above spacing, is supported as before by an impost and pilaster. The base of the pilaster consists of a slightly projecting block equal in height to the plinth block of the pedestal.
The height of the arch varies slightly, inasmuch as the inner curve may be about a diameter from the architrave, but in the Corinthian order should not fall below the level of the necking moulding of the capital.
As already stated, the pedestal may be used as a part of a balustrading associated with balusters, and must conform to the proportions necessitated by the conditions. The usual height for balustradings, whether to steps, balconies, or before windows, is three feet two inches, though in special cases it may be slightly more.