Premier Series™ Ionic Wood Columns

Ionic Wood Columns

Roman Ionic Columns

Presenting our Roman Ionic Wood Columns

The Roman Ionic Column is perhaps the most unique. It is the only classical column to break free of a canonic, or cylindrical capitol. The Ionic column's capitol is its crowning glory and what sets it apart from the rest. It features a flattened scroll with curling ends or volutes.

The Roman Ionic Column conjures images of bold and stately buildings, of institutions and meeting places where decisions are made and formal ways adhered to. Today, the Roman Ionic Column enhances with an air of sobriety and elegance. It is a superb and defining addition to exterior entranceways, and much more. The traditional number of 24 flutes and a lengthy height of eight shaft diameters gives the Roman Ionic Column a graceful and detailed appearance.

The distinguishing features of the Ionic Order are the scrolls that decorate the capital of the wood column shaft. These scrolls derived their intriguing shape from the shell of the Nautilus. The most common representations of the Ionic Order include wood columns with 24 flutes separated by fillets that are about one-third their width. Ionic shafts are placed on decorative Attic Bases. Customarily, the Ionic Order column height including capital and base is nine diameters. A prime example of the Ionic Order as it was used in Rome is the Temple of Fortuna Virilis. These wood Architectural Columns are among our most Popular.

Ionic Columns were the first to feature the decorative Attic Base. With an extra ring of molding, this elegant base accents the intricate Ionic Capital.

The Ionic Columns may be ordered specifying Vignola's architecturally correct dimensions, or in custom combinations of height and width. Although usually requiring the standard tapered shaft with twenty-four flutes, an Ionic Column may also come smooth or non-tapered. The standard Ionic Capital is often substituted with the popular Scamozzi Capital.

Roman Ionic Intercolumniation

Roman Ionic Columns are available in fluted or unfluted versions. They may be ordered in Vignola’s architectural proportions or in custom combinations of column lengths and widths as well as in non-tapered cylinders. Square architectural columns and pilasters to match detail of round tapered columns are available.

Roman Ionic Tapered Shaft Fluting Specs Attic Base Roman Ionic Cap
Outside Dia. Inside Dia. No. Width Plinth Base Molding Base Height Height Abacus Scroll
Bottom Top Bottom Top A B C D E F B-F G H I
6"4-3/4"3"3"241/2"8"1"3/4"3/4"1/2"1/2"3-1/2"2-1/4"6-1/8"8-1/16"
8"6-1/2"5-1/4"4-7/8"2411/16"10-3/4"1-7/8"1-1/8"7/8"3/4"1/2"5-1/8"3"8-1/4"10-1/2"
10"8-1/2"7-1/4"6-7/8"247/8"13-3/8"2-3/8"1-1/4"1-1/8"7/8"5/8"6-1/4"3-5/8"11"13-1/2"
12"10"9"8-1/2"241"16-1/8"2-3/4"1-1/2"1-3/8"1"5/8"7-1/4"4-1/2"12-1/2"16-1/2"
14"12"10-1/8"9"241-1/4"18-3/4"3-3/8"1-3/4"1-5/8"1-1/4"3/4"8-3/4"5-1/2"17-1/2"23"
15"12-3/4"11-7/16"10"241-11/32"20-1/8"3-5/8"1-15/16"1-3/4"1-5/16"13/16"9-7/16"6-1/8"17-1/2"22"
16"13-1/2"12"10"241-7/16"21-1/2"3-7/8"2-1/8"1-7/8"1-3/8"7/8"10-1/8"6-1/8"17-1/2"22"
18"15"14-1/4"12"241-1/2"24-1/4"4-1/4"2-3/8"2-1/8"1-1/2"1-1/8"11-3/8"6-1/2"20"24-1/4"
20"17"16-1/4"13"241-11/l6"27"4-3/4"2-5/8"2-3/8"1-3/4"1-3/8"12-7/8"7-5/8"25"27-1/2"
22"18-1/2"18-1/4"15"241-15/16"29-3/4"5-1/4"2-7/8"2-5/8"1-7/8"1-5/8"14-1/4"8-3/4"25"31-3/4"
24"20"20-1/4"17"242-1/8"32-1/2"5-3/4"3-3/16"2-7/8"2-1/8"1-3/4"15-11/16"9"25-1/4"33"
26"22"22-1/8"19"242-1/4"35"6-1/4"3-3/8"3-1/8"2-1/4"1-7/8"16-7/8"9-1/2"26-1/2"33-3/4"
28"23-1/2"24-1/8"21"242-11/16"38"6-3/4"3-3/4"3-3/8"2-3/8"1-7/8"18-1/8"12-1/2"32"40-1/4"
30"25"26-1/4"22"242-7/8"40-1/2"7-1/4"3-7/8"3-5/8"2-5/8"1-7/8"19-1/4"12-1/2"32"40-1/4"

Column Order Superposition

The view of Renaissance authority Scamozzi was that the lower diameter of a top column should equal the upper diameter of the column underneath. The superior order should always be placed over the inferior, that is Corinthian over Ionic, Doric, Tuscan. The more slender and elegant orders should be placed over the stockier and more solidly built if a top-heavy design is not desired. An ancient example of this descending order is the Colosseum in Rome, which has at least four stories of superpositioned orders.

Premier Wood Column Plan Types

Premier Wood Columns are as unique as the different types of installations that are available. We offer our Premier Wood Columns in a wide variety of "Plan Types". These "Plan Types" are the style and type of shaft, capital, and base you will receive. If you are using them as half columns against a wall, you would want to select an "D" plan type. This would give you a column that could be installed against a wall. These are the most common plan types, however, we can do custom plan types if your project requires it.



Calculated Safe-Load Capacities

The sample columns tested supported loads at least four times the calculated value above prior to failure. The load was applied concentrically through the axis of the column. Loads shown are valid only if there is uniform contact between the full area of column ends and the cap & base units. Loads are provided for your convenience only and are not exact values. Consult a structural engineer for the most accurate load estimates.

Safe-Load Capacities
Shaft Dia. Pine Redwood Shaft Dia. Pine Redwood
6"2,5675,14622"18,42624,212
8"4,1147,64624"20,01826,272
10"5,49710,47426"22,25236,870
12"6,62012,53528"24,00139,519
14"11,01715,28230"25,74642,169
16"12,30717,34332"42,08055,317
18"14,48719,40434"44,56757,476
20"16,68822,15136"47,05461,794

Stave Thickness

Stave Thickness
Shaft Dia. Unfluted Fluted Shaft Dia. Unfluted Fluted
6"1-1/2"1-1/2"22"2"3"
8"1-1/2"1-1/2"24"2"3"
10"1-1/2"2"26"2"3"
12"1-1/2"2"28"2"3"
14"2"2"30"2"3"
16"2"2"32"3"3-1/2"
18"2"2"34"3"3-1/2"
20"2"2"36"3"3-1/2"

Column Splitting

Using a precision splitting template machine, columns can be divided in halves to be used as pilasters or to be reassembled around existing structural members. Columns designed for reassembly come with realignment splines and installation instructions.

Available Materials

Stain grade columns are designed to let the natural beauty of the wood shine through. The most attractive wood is used, so when the column is stained, it looks outstanding. They are perfect for interior applications.

Finishing Options

Wood Finish - Stain Grade
Stain grade columns are designed to let the natural beauty of the wood shine through. The most attractive wood is used, so when the column is stained, it looks outstanding. They are perfect for interior applications.

Wood Finish - Paint Grade
Paint grade columns are an excellent choice for exterior enhancements. Paint grade wood columns are unfinished. It is important to note that for the best results, these columns should be primed and painted.