Eyebrows are important. Whether they are shielding your eyes from detritus, or drawn together in frustration, they speak volumes. The same could be said for the eyebrow dormer on the roof of a historic dwelling. An eyebrow dormer is a low dormer on the slope of a roof with no sides, the roofing being carried over it in a wavy line.
Eyebrow dormer, Paris, Kentucky.
Eyebrow dormers, those low expressions of a curve, are designed to admit light into an attic space. They start showing up in American domestic architecture in the last quarter of the 19th century, most commonly in the Queen Anne, Shingle, and Second Empire styles.
Eyebrow dormer, Lexington, Kentucky.
According to an article in the June 2006 issue of Old House Journal, an eyebrow dormer is a “subtle, secondary feature rarely appearing more than once in a house.”
Eyebrow dormer, Georgetown, Kentucky. This one has more of a conical shape as it rises out of the roofline.
Eyebrow dormers are small, often not rising more than a foot in height from the surrounding slope of the roof.
Eyebrow dormer (and a whole lot of other ornamentation), Richmond, Kentucky.
Its singularity and scale means that the eyebrow dormer is an exclamation point on an expanse of shingles (or whatever the cladding of the roof). A practical and playful architectural feature!
Would love to see interior photos of these windows. Some really sharp angles for glass cutters. So interesting!
Thank you for reading – I am glad you enjoyed it!
The Mansion pictured here that is located in Georgetown is currently available for sale. Its address is 406 West Main Street and you can find it easily on Zillow. The Realtors name is Katie Prather and she has over 80 photographs of this property. There is a really good picture of the room interior that has the eyebrow window. But I warn you be prepared to be absolutely flabbergasted by the woodwork and interiors of this old place.
I’m sure you will not be surprised to know that I love that last queen Anne one the best. Do they really let that much light in? But they are all adorable, regardless of their functionality.
I don’t know how much light they let in – but if I find myself in a space with an eyebrow dormer, I will be sure to report back!
Delightful!!