Open-Up: The Secret History of Inverted Balusters
Disregarding the Stairs
I admit that because I’ve always lived in multi-story homes, I haven’t given our homes’ staircases much thought. Even though one was very impressive, I never gave it any thought. Now that we’ve moved, I regret not taking a closer look at that staircase. I’ve also discovered that a lot of staircases have a single, inverted baluster.
A Superstitious Custom
At first glance, an inverted baluster on your staircase can appear to be a mistake made by the carpenter. These balusters are purposefully placed, though, and frequently laced with superstition.
The Customs Involved
Builders and carpenters have a long-standing custom of installing a single, inverted baluster to symbolize the imperfections of human creations in contrast to the perfection of God’s creations. According to a different belief, it acts as a barrier to prevent the devil from using the stairs to seize those who are about to pass away.
