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A bollard (aka "boles" or (French) "boulard") is a short, vertical post. Originally used mainly for mooring ships, bollards today have a number of functions. Among the earliest boles to be documented is the white marble Arch of Septimius Serverus in AD 203. Here, five of the structures are in place to protect the arch from damage by vehicles. It is unclear whether these were in place at the time the arch was constructed or whether they were installed later. Today, a bollard is likely to be set into the pavement in front of an expensive jewelry store to discourage would-be ram-raiders.
Another type of bollard is called a Dragon's tooth. This is a square, pyramidal bole made from reinforced concrete. The first recorded use of dragon's teeth was in the Siegfried Line in World War II. Their purpose was to retard the progress of tanks and gently guide them toward pre-designated "killing zones."
Boll-Art at Winchester Cathedral shows a whimsical example of boles used both decoratively and functionally. Designed to protect pedestrians from nearby vehicles, the posts have been painted with various themes. Mona Lisa is accompanied by works adapted from Matisse, Lautrec, Mondrian, Klimt and others.
Bells are another form of bollard. Located on sidewalks at intersections, they are surprisingly not designed to trip up innocent pedestrians. Rather, they are there to deflect heavy goods vehicles from jumping onto the pedestrian walkways.
Often, you will see the posts lit up from the inside to help motorists avoid jumping curbs at night. One London artist took it upon herself to decorate one on her street with delightful flowers and butterflies drawn in marker pen. Apparently, in her home town of Bribane, Australia, the city council positively encourages people to decorate signal boxes in this manner.
One of London's most elaborate bollard sculptures is located at Duke of York Square near Sloane Street. This is the Leapfrog Bollard, depicting a bollard circa 1819 with a little boy leapfrogging over it. Next to the boy, sitting atop a plinth, is a little girl. The total picture is called "Two Pupils, " and the plinth is etched with their story.
The structure of a bollard designed for mooring may have a cross bar on either side. This is to enable the ship's crew to wind the rope around it in a figure 8. This type of bollard is a source of fascination for tourists. "Ghent mooring bollard 17, "Mooring bollard in the Marina of Izola, " and "Mooring bollard at sunset, Lyme Regis" are all perfect examples.
London would certainly not be the same without the humble bollard. They protect pedestrians from errant vehicles and keep motorists from wandering down the wrong way of a one-way system. By the sea and on canals, sailors would have a lot less fun mooring their vessels. Tourists would have fewer objects to photograph as evidence of their holidays.
Another type of bollard is called a Dragon's tooth. This is a square, pyramidal bole made from reinforced concrete. The first recorded use of dragon's teeth was in the Siegfried Line in World War II. Their purpose was to retard the progress of tanks and gently guide them toward pre-designated "killing zones."
Boll-Art at Winchester Cathedral shows a whimsical example of boles used both decoratively and functionally. Designed to protect pedestrians from nearby vehicles, the posts have been painted with various themes. Mona Lisa is accompanied by works adapted from Matisse, Lautrec, Mondrian, Klimt and others.
Bells are another form of bollard. Located on sidewalks at intersections, they are surprisingly not designed to trip up innocent pedestrians. Rather, they are there to deflect heavy goods vehicles from jumping onto the pedestrian walkways.
Often, you will see the posts lit up from the inside to help motorists avoid jumping curbs at night. One London artist took it upon herself to decorate one on her street with delightful flowers and butterflies drawn in marker pen. Apparently, in her home town of Bribane, Australia, the city council positively encourages people to decorate signal boxes in this manner.
One of London's most elaborate bollard sculptures is located at Duke of York Square near Sloane Street. This is the Leapfrog Bollard, depicting a bollard circa 1819 with a little boy leapfrogging over it. Next to the boy, sitting atop a plinth, is a little girl. The total picture is called "Two Pupils, " and the plinth is etched with their story.
The structure of a bollard designed for mooring may have a cross bar on either side. This is to enable the ship's crew to wind the rope around it in a figure 8. This type of bollard is a source of fascination for tourists. "Ghent mooring bollard 17, "Mooring bollard in the Marina of Izola, " and "Mooring bollard at sunset, Lyme Regis" are all perfect examples.
London would certainly not be the same without the humble bollard. They protect pedestrians from errant vehicles and keep motorists from wandering down the wrong way of a one-way system. By the sea and on canals, sailors would have a lot less fun mooring their vessels. Tourists would have fewer objects to photograph as evidence of their holidays.
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