A gable is the end of a ridged roof, with the three cornered piece of wall that it covers. A triangle ornament or canopy over a door or window can also be called a gable.

What really might appeal to you when you look at a gable isn't the gable itself, but the shadow it leaves on a wall. Gable details are usually only for decoration and rarely have a structural purpose.

This is a simple gable design on Arch Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets.	Many detailed four leaved designs are found on this 115 N. Seventh Street gable.
This gable is found at the front of a twin home at 525 & 527 Race Street (between Fifth and Sixth Streets).	At the side of the 525 Race Street home the gables show similar ornamentation with the wider gable.
A series of wooden sticks and other cut curves are pieced together to create this gable decoration. The design works around the chimney on this home at 502A Market Street (near Fifth Street).	Curved forms are used throughout this design. The gable design shown is at the rear of the 528 and 530 Vine Street properties and another example of this design is found on the Sixth Street side of the 530 property.
This gable at 15 N. Fifth Street (between Market and Arch Streets) includes several simple forms.	A series of pierced wooden shapes and stick forms are assembled to create this gable at 199 N.Seventh Street.