Elephant Leg Column
Weigh this stout architectural element if you're going for a Craftsman-style exterior or interior
The elephant leg column is as much a part of Craftsman style as quarter-sawn oak. This column is tapered. Starting out massive at its base, it tapers to a smaller top, or capital. It also has a simplicity of detail that fits in with its Craftsman heritage. How the column got its name is a mystery — but it does look like a stout elephant leg holding up a roof.
Elephant leg columns are often set atop a low wall to keep them shorter. Stout and stubby, they convey solidity and massiveness.
These columns are also used in interiors. Homes with open-plan interiors often have rooms created by screens and built-in elements such as bookcases. The elephant leg column can be used to define each room and bring a feeling of solidity to the interior.
The elephant leg column dates to the early 20th century, but it continues to be used today, sometimes in playful ways.
As a motif, these columns add authenticity to any renovation for which Craftsman style is the goal.