Stonemasons' Marks

Context, History and Purposes
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-55263-7
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 254 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Reihe: Routledge Research in Architectural History

This book investigates the historical and functional significance of Stonemasons' marks—symbols inscribed on individual stone blocks—as a communicative practice within the architectural and construction industries.

Masons' marks exist for practical reasons and have been in use for over 4000 years. Marks stood outside literacy and acted as a form of communication within the stone-working environment that has parallels with systems of visual signs used elsewhere. This book presents an analysis of masons' marks, moving the debate away from a search for meaning to an appraisal of their roles. It is into two main sections; the first deals with the historic search for an understanding of marks, and provides their context within other cipher-based communication systems before identifying the different ways in which masons' marks were used. The second section considers the evidence from buildings of the medieval, early-modern and industrial periods and demonstrates the changes evident in the use of marks. By drawing on detailed case-studies of buildings, it shows how marks can inform and deepen our understanding of the ways in which stone buildings have been constructed across time.

The first of its kind, this book provides a definitive account of a subject. It will therefore be of interest to buildings archaeologists, conservators, and students of architectural history, as well as members of the public interested in knowing more about how buildings are constructed.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Alexander, Jennifer

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Enzyklopädien, Nachschlagewerke, Wörterbücher
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Architektur: Restaurierung, Instandhaltung
• Technische Wissenschaften Bauingenieurwesen Gebäudesanierung, Instandhaltung
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Innenarchitektur, Architekturdesign
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Architektur: Allgemeines
• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Geschichte der Architektur, Baugeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction Chapter 1. The Search for Meaning Chapter 2. The Context for Masons' Marks Chapter 3. The Categories of Marks Chapter 4. Marks to Identify Work and Output Chapter 5. Medieval Marks Chapter 6. Masons' marks in the early modern period Chapter 7. Marks in the Industrial Age, and Later Bibliography.

Über Autor(innen)

Jennifer S. Alexander is Professor of Architectural History at the University of Warwick, UK. She studied Art History at the University of East Anglia and Archaeology at Nottingham University. She has taught in a number of universities and worked as a consultant archaeologist on medieval and early-modern sites and buildings, in particular undertaking studies of masons' marks.