Cornice

Not to be confused with Corniche.

This article is about the architectural feature. For the overhanging snow form, see Snow cornice.

Illustrations of cornices in different styles

Illustrations of various examples of ancient Egyptian cornices, all of them having cavettos

In architecture, a cornice (from Italian cornice 'ledge') is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element. Examples include the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a pedestal, or along the top of an interior wall. A simple cornice may be formed with a crown, as in crown moulding atop an interior wall or above kitchen cabinets or a bookcase.

A projecting cornice on a building has the function of diverting rainwater away from its walls. In residential building design, this function is handled by projecting gable ends, roof eaves, and gutters. However, house eaves may also be called "cornices" if they are finished with decorative moulding. In this sense, while most cornices are also eaves (overhanging the sides of the building), not all eaves are usually considered cornices. Eaves are primarily functional and not necessarily decorative, while cornices have a decorative aspect.

A building's projecting cornice may appear to be heavy and hence in danger of falling, particularly on commercial buildings, but it often is actually very light and made of pressed metal.