pedestal

Pedestal refers to a raised platform or base used to support and display an object. In sculpture and architecture, it denotes the lowest part of a monument or statue on which the figure stands, or the base that supports a column, obelisk, or other architectural element.

Pedestals are designed to elevate the object for visibility, proportion, and protection from ground moisture. They can be simple blocks or elaborately ornamented, with inscriptions, reliefs, or fluting. Materials include stone such as marble or granite, concrete, metal, or wood, and dimensions range from small plinths to large multipiece bases in public monuments.

Beyond sculpture and architecture, the term is used for stands or bases in furniture and fixtures, such as pedestal tables, pedestal sinks, or pedestal fans, where the object is mounted on a free-standing base.

In everyday language, to place someone on a pedestal means to idealize or excessively praise them, highlighting elevation and reverence rather than a physical base.

Related terms include plinth and socle, which describe similar base elements in sculpture and architecture.