Picture Rail

Both a type and position of architectural molding. Picture rail molding resides below a cornice or crown molding and above a chair molding. On a ten foot tall wall the picture molding would typically be placed between eight and nine feet from the floor. Picture rail molding is so named as it used to function as a place from which the cables, ropes, or sashes supporting a picture frame would hang. This kept the plaster free of holes from hooks or nails.