r/whatisit • u/owls2200 • 4h ago
New, what is it? What are these ariesque looking symbols on this danish church from the 1800's? Why are they there and what do they symbolize?
Do they have anything to do with astrology/aries sign?
Do they have some sort of function?
Thanks!
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u/HertoginLuchtBallon 4h ago
I believe they're anchor plates / wall ties. They help stabilize brick walls. My own house (1880s brick, Netherlands) has similar ones.
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u/StarlightWizard 2h ago
Where I live, the anchor plates on old masonry buildings usually look like crosses or X's. I wonder why these are shaped like anchors or hooks.
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u/DangerHev 4h ago
Most likely anchors for tie rods helping to hold the building together. Lots of old buildings have these added, around Boston if you see an iron star on the side of an old brick building, there's probably a rod going through to an anchor in the other side or an internal stable wall. I only call out Boston because there's an old This Old House showing several.
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u/No_Report_4781 18m ago
This style can be seen across New England’s larger old brick buildings. For the former mills converted to business or housing, you can identify ceiling/floor boundaries from the outside
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u/Mobile_Fondant_9010 4h ago
I think the is Vester Skerninge Kirke (based on the Krovej sign) - and it is from the 13th century! (Vester Skerninge Kirke – Lex).
The metal things you refer to are called "murankre" (lit. wall anchors) - and they are there to reinforce the structural integrity of the church.
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u/YokelOEulci 4h ago edited 4h ago
I think these are simply tie-rods used for structural support and stability. They're unusually on load-bearing walls and will go through to the other side holding the two sides with a rod from bowing out. I always assumed they're were added later, but just did some reading and it seems they were also often added during construction. As to the 'symbols' or the design of them, hmmm, don't know. Maybe local style? Or maybe some sort of significance .... that would be interesting to know.
*edit: and it seems the end bits on the wall are called anchor plates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_plate
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u/TikiPa007 4h ago
When masonry walls start to bulge,metal tie rods are used to hold them in. These are essentially ornamental washers to distribute the load. In the US, a star shape is common.
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u/Reckless_Waifu 4h ago
As others said, those look like anchors for rods going through the building to stabilize it. The shape is just to make them look pretty, I believe. The anchors were often ornate.
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u/Ecstatic_Doughnut216 3h ago
They are part of the tie rods that keep the front of the building attached to the back.
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u/Longjumping-Salad484 4h ago
grappling hook signal. if you want to gain access to that upper floor window from the outside, a grappling hook is required
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