Raised neck-gable (±1640-±1670)

Raised neck-gable Zwanenburgerstraat 4 (pulled down in 1978 when the Stopera was built), reinstalled in 1996 at Lange Niezel 24

The raised neck-gable belongs to the period of Dutch Classicism. This type may be considered as a transitional stage between the stepped gable and the neck-gable proper. However, the latter type occurs as early as 1640. The raised neck-gable consists of two sets of steps, resulting in four right angles, two on either side. These angles were filled with croll stones. (The "ordinary" neck-gable has only two right angles, one on each side.) Classicist elements such as pilasters, cornices and frontons were widely used. As a rule raised neck- gables go together with so-called pilaster facades. Pilaster facades were fashionable between approx. 1640 and approx. 1670, almost coinciding with the hey-day of Dutch Classicism (approx. 1630 - approx. 1675). However, pilaster facades are also combined with other types of gable tops such as neck-gables and cornices.

OZ Voorburgwal 239 (1634), transition from stepped to neck-gable

Philips Vingboons is the architect commonly associated with this type of gable. 239 Oudezijds Voorburgwal (1634), a stepped gable which starts to resemble a raised neck-gable, is ascribed to Vingboons. Examples of raised neck-gables built by him are Keizersgracht 319 (1639) and Rokin 319 (1642/43).

Rokin 145

Examples of raised neck-gables with pilasters: Keizersgracht 319 (1639); Oudezijds Achterburgwal 167-169 (1641); Rokin 145 (1642/42); Nieuwendijk 161 (1649); Prinsengracht 36 (1650); Oudezijds Achterburgwal 66A (approx. 1650); Herengracht 91 (1657); Herengracht 59 (1659); Amstel 14 (Wapen van London, 1661); Prinsengracht 92 (1661); Keizersgracht 401 (Marseille, 1665) and Oudezijds Achterburgwal 201 (1673). Some houses have pilasters in the neck only such as Singel 410 (1647) and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 274 (approx. 1680). Some examples of raised neck-gables without pilasters are: Herengracht 281-283 (1660); Spuistraat 90 (1665); Leidsegracht 72 (1666) and Keizersgracht 387 (1668). Some examples occur of raised neck-gables of which the lower steps are just as wide as the lower part of the facade, which means there are only two right angles decorated with croll stones (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 187, 1663 and Herengracht 416, 1667). These gables may in turn be considered as a transitional stage between the raised neck-gable and the neck- gable proper.