L E TT E R N G

lN

O R NA M E NT
AN E NQU I RY I NTO TH E
D E C O R A TI V E U SE OF
L E TT E R I N G , P AS T, P R E
S E NT , AN D P O SS I B L E

LEW IS Pi DAY
AU T H O R O F A L PH A B E T S O L D
‘
AN D
NE w ,
’
A R T I N NE E D L E W O R K ,
’
E TC .

W I TH N UME RO US I L L USTR ATI ONS , O L D AND NEW

L O ND O N

B T BATS FO RD 9 4 H IG H H O L BO R N
. .

1
9 0 2
B RAD B U RY , AG N Is w , 8: co . L IL , P R I N I E RS ,

L O O
ND N AN D T O I E
NB R DG .
 P RE F AC E .

“
T H I S is not so much a se q uel to A lphabets
”
O ld and New as that is preli m inary to this .

The earlier volume dealt with the alphabet only ,

the forms of letters : the consideration is here

their use in ornament the way they have been
,

and are to be employed in decoration .

The illustrations (of which a descriptive list is

g iven ) are chosen strictl y with a view to illustrate ,

which will accou nt for the introd u ction O f my own

designs : it was not possible always to find the
fitting instance and an O bvious way out O f the
,

dilem m a w a s to make a drawi ng .

I ncidentally however the examples O f Old work

, ,

here brought together show how u niversal was

the u s e of Lettering in O rnament how varied, ,

how ingenious and at times ho w beautifu l

,
.

H aply they may serve as incentives to fresh

invention ; in any case they are valuable O bject
lessons in decorative treatment .

My point of view it is hardly necessary to s a y

, ,

is that of the workman who if he is a good

—
,

workman is something of an artist too ; and

,
 NOTE OF A C KN O WL E D GME N T .

I am i ndeb ted i n ma ny q u a r ters : to M r R Anni ng . .

B el l , M r Wa l ter C r a ne, M r R afi les D a v i ds on,

.
‘
.

M r H a r ry S oa ne
. a nd Mis s B . A . Wa ldra m for ,

the us e f
o thei r des i g ns or dr a wi ng s to H er ren
Ger la ch a nd S chenk , the I mp r i mer i es Reu ni es ,
’

H er r von L a r i s ch, M r H a r ry S oa ne
. a nd M es s r s .

H . Vi r tu e <8 C o »
.
, L td , .
f or a l l ow i n
g re r odu cti ons
p
fr om p u b li ca ti ons to M i s s
thei r Gi mi ngha m , for the
l oa n of p hotog raphs ; to the R ector of S tony hu rs t
C oll eg e for s a ncti oni ng the i llu s tra ti on of Qu een
,

M ary s p ray er b ook to the a u thor i ti es of the B ri ti s h

’
-

a nd Vi ctor i a (5 A l b er t M u s eu ms a nd esp eci a lly to ,

M r A B S k i nner
. . . a nd M r G F H i ll for
. . .
, va lu a b le

a s s i s ta nce i n the p roducti on f

o thi s b ook .
 C O NT E NT S .

C R AP .

I N T R O D U C T O RY
II . TH E PR N I TE D P AG E

II I . THE W R I TT E N P AG E

IV . M O N U M E N AL T I NS C RI P T I O NS
D E C O RATI V E LE T T E R I NG
VI . I NSC RI B E D L AB E L S OR S C RO L L S
VI I . I DE N
H D I
M E AN NG S

VI I I . C O NJ O I N E D LE TT E R S
IX . M O N O G R AM S

CY P H E R S
XI . O RN A M E N T AL LE TT E R I N G
XII . I N I TI A L LE TT E R S
X III . O R NA M E N T AL I N I TI AL S
X IV . I T O R I AL I N ITI AL S
P C

XV . LE T T E R I NG AN D O R NA M E N T
D E S C R I P T I V E LI S T OF I LL U S T RA TI O NS .

I . FRA M E OF A PUR S E O R B AG , w i th the l i l ie s of Fra nce a nd

p
i ns c ri ti o n i nc i s e d . Fo u nd in E ng l a nd . 1 5 th c e ntu r y .

B
( M ) . .

2 . RU S S I AN Ms .

3 . PA L I B UDDH I S T Ms .

4 . I CE L AND I C I N S CR I PTI O N , ca r v e d i n woo d .

5 . ARA B I C I N S CR I PTI O N f , ro m a s to ne s a l b i n the M os q ue at

C do aor v .

6 . L E AF O F A D I P T YCH c a , rv e d i n iv or y , w i th bj su e c ts l re a t i ng

t th e N a ti i ty e tc
o v , . R he nis h . ro th ce n tu y r . B
( M .

CARV D DRA WE R FR O N TS f m a G thic ca bine t Th l e tt

E , ro o . e er

A in th w o d FA T A d l i b t ly bis ec ted by th f mi ng
e r e e ra e e ra .

F e nc hr
(C l n y M e m ) . u us u .

8 . T RAC E RY W I NDOW f o m , H o s p i ta l o f
r th e f
re e c t o r y of the
S C ro s s w i th q u a ri e be a i ng th e m o tto o f C a d i na l
.
,
r s r r

Bea u fo t w ho s e a rms o cc py the centre o f the l igh t

r , u .

E ngl i s h P e r pe nd i c u l a G o thi c Abo u t the m i ddl e o f the r .

1 s t h c en t u r y
(W i n s to n
) . .

BR O NZ E M E DA L o f the I tal i n R na i s a nc (V 8 A M ) a e s e . . : . .

10 . D C O RATI V E PAN E L— P
E n d th e G rae ae— i n g o u po n
e rs e u s a es s

o a k th i ns c i p tio n i n
, e i e d g i l t l e tters — b y S i r E B rne
r ra s . u

j ne o s .

11 . PART OF AN E M B R O I D E R E D TO L The i ns c i p tio n w o k d i n t S E . r , r e o

th g o ld
e b ac k g o u nd fa l t i n i t ars me l y t b e,
k so r os re o r a

the b a k e t s ti tch d i a p e
s R u m a ni a n
- r . o .
x 11 D E S C RI PTI V E L I ST O F I L L U S TRATI O NS .

1 2. WOO DCU T I N ITI A L S , fro m a b ok p

o ri n te d at l
B a e i n th e
r 6 th cen t u ry .

M E TA L C OVE R OF A CRY S T A L CUP , i n the U ffi z i at F l o renc e ,

p i ced a nd e na mell d w i th th
er e e C y p he r of H en r i D eu x .

F r e nc h . 1 6 th c e n tu r y . H
( . H av a r d ’
s
“
Di c ti o nnai re de
”
l Am e u b l e m e n t
’
.
Quanti n ) .

G L AZ E D E NCAU S TI C TI L E , w i th pa rt o f a L a ti n i ns c ri t i o n p
f o m th B k o f j b
r e oo o , xix . 21 . Fo u nd i n S u s s ex . D a te d
456
1 (B M ) . . .

FR O M A JE WE L L E RY D E S I GN by , H . Ho lbe i n .
(
P ri n t -
ro o m,
B M . .
)
1 6 . MAR KS OF TH E PR I N TE R S, J a q u es H u gu e ta n a nd M a th e w

H uz L , y o ns . 1 49 4 ,
1 49 3 .

1 7 . ROUG H S KE TCH FOR A N E W PAP E R H AD I NG S E

(
L F D ) . .

1 8 . P OS T R by E , R Ann i ng
. Be ll .

PA RCH M E N T GRAN T t a H o pi t l i n B go s by Al f n s th o s a ur ,
o o e

Wi o nd d b y
s e, i n c i p ti o n S I GN O D E L RE
s u rr u DO N e s r ,
Y

A L FO N S O n d c o nfi m ti o n f j n G a c i i n nce n t i c
, a r a o ua r a, co r

ci cl r S pa i n
es 54 ( B
. M ) , 12 .

I N S CR I PTI O N by J phos e P l é nic k , of V i e nn a . B

( e i p i l e s e

R ii ns t le ri s c her S c h ri f t H err v on L a rzs ch ) .

21 . I N S CR I PTI O N by O t to H pp u ,
of M u n ic h . B
( e i p i e l e s R u ns t
le i s c h
r S c h i ft H er
v r . err on L a r is eh .
)
22 . D I AG RAM , to s ho w l e t te r- s pac i ng .

23 . D I AGRAM , to s ho w c o ns t r u c t i o n o f Ro m a n l et te rs .

24 . TIT L PAG E E- to W . E d en Nes fi e l d s

'

S p ec i m e n s of M ed i ae v a l
Arch i tec tu re . 1 86 2 .

25 . B R O NZ E P L ATE , f ro m the g ra v e of V ei t S to s s , th e
c lpt N m b G er m a n B ro nce
“
s u or . u re erg . ,
59 1 1 .
( D ie
E p i ta p b i e n de r F r i e db f Nii rn b e rg G erl ach
‘

o e zu . é v

S chenk ,
Vi enna .
)
 D E S C RI P TI V E L I S T O F I L L U S TRATI O NS . xii i

26
. B AC K O F A P I N WO O D TA L f o m th C h c h f S V l n
E S L, r e ur o . a e

ti ne Ki d i c h
, C e d by E ha t F l k n
e r f Ab en p k
. a rv r r a e er , o s er .

F l a t l e tte ing g o und ed u t th w d s ep t d b y i n t

r r o , e or s a ra e er

m ed i te na m e n t
a Ge m n 5
or M o n m en ta l S ch i f . r a , 1 10 . u -
r

t n e e ga ngene
v J a h h nd t
r G l h é S h nk r r u er e . er a c » c e ,

Vi enna )
I N CR I B D PAN E n de th p l p i t i n the C th d l
S E L u r e u a e ra at S ie na .

M a bl the l e tt i n l i f I t l i n I 543
r e, e rs re e . a a . .

I N CR I PTI O N PAN E L f o m th t m b f M y o f B g ndy i n

S , r e o o ar ur u ,

the C h h fN t D a me t B g
u rc o 49 5 5 o re a ru es . 1 — 1 02 .

I N S CR I PTI O N n th e to m b f B no o F d ighi i n th C h c h
o o e zz e er ,
e ur

o f S T i n i té F l o e n c
. r by L c d ell Ro bbi a th l tt
,
r e, u a a , e e e rs

i n i d i n m bl
c se 45 ar e . 1 0 .

I N CR I E D PAN E L f o m th h i n f S S i me n t Z
S B , r e s r e o . o , a a ra

i n D l m ti Sil
a em b
a d a nd g il t Th w k f
a . v e r, os s e . e or o

F ra nces c o di An t o ni o , of S es to . 1 3 80 .

CA S T I R O N GRAV E
-
SL A B, fro m th e C h u rc h of S . j a co bi ,

L ii b ec k . 1 59 9 . M o n u me n ta l -
S c h ri fte n v erg a n ge n e r

j a h rhu n d er te . G erlach éy S chenk

‘

, Vzemu .
)
L ATI N I N S CR I PTI O N i n i bbo n l i k e G th i c c h c t f m , r -
o a ra er , ro a

m lb u ra at S P t Chras s h C l gn 5 6 F
( m . e er s
’
u rc , o o e . 1 0 . ro

a bbi ng by W H J a m W l i n th L i b a y t
ru . . es ea e e r r a

V A M )
. . .

D I AGRAM to ho w th fi tti ng t g th f l e tteS t id e o e er o rs s o as o avo

asm u c h a p o i bl p e n p e f g n d b tw n
s ss e o s ac s o ro u e ee .

SL A B o u ts i d e th e C h u rc h of S . E m me ra n , R eg e n s b u rg , c u t

in s an d s to n e . Mon u me nt a S c h ri fte n l -
v e rg a n ge ne r J ahr

hun de r te .
"
G erlach <3 S chenk ,
Vi enna .
)
B R O NZ E GR AV E P L AT E . D ie B ro nc e - E p i ta p h i e n de r F ri e d
Nii rn b erg G erl ach <3 S chm k
”
h Ofe zu .
,
Vi enna .
)
CARV E D PE w E ND E ngl i h -
. s . 1 6 th c e n tu r y . F ro m a s k e tc h

by R ffl e D a i o n a s v s .

PART O F A B E L T — I o n in l a i d r w i th s i l v e r. By z a n ti ne . B
( M ) . .
x iv D E S C RI PTI V E L I S T O F I L L U S TRATI O NS .

38 . LE AF OF A D I PT Y CH , c ar v e d in i vo r y . 1 0 th c e n tu r y . B
( M . .
)

39 . PART O F A WOO D E N D OO R a t th C a th d l o f L e e ra e P uy . Fla t

i n g g o nd d
ca rv t I n c i b d n th e
r up e ou . s r e o u ri g h t p os t is
th n m
e f th ti t
a
(C o m p
e a e w i
o th e ar s . r Fre nc h .

1 2 t h c e n tu r y .

40 . C O V R OF TH E GO P E
E S LS, w i th S la v o ni c i n s c ri ti o n s p , re ou s s é ,
p
il
S gi l t
v er5 9 . 1 1 .

4 1 . E N L ARG E M E N T OF AN NGRAV I NG o n ppe by E co r. H a ns S e ba ld

Beh m G man 54 (B M )
a . er . 1 2 . . .

4 2 . G RAV E S TON E , w i th i n c i s e d i ns c ri ti o n p , f ro m th e I s a n l d of

G o t l nd a . 1 31 6 .

G L AZ E D E AR T H E N WAR E LO V I NG CUP de , co ra te d in l yc a of

d iff en t co l o u
er St rs . a fi o rds hi re.
'

1
7 th c e n t u r y . B
( M . .
)
PART A CARV E D W OO D E N DO O R w i th M e q
OF , or s ue o r na m e n t

a nd i n c i p ti o n i n G th i c c h
s a c te
r by w y o ar r a of b d or er .

S p ni h a 1 5 th sen t y (M é de A t
. c ur . us e s r s D é c o ra ti fs ,

P a ri s .
)

45 .
PAR T O F AN I RO N D OO R d i p d , a e re w i t h t he a rm s of L eo n a nd

C a ti ll I n c i p tio n by w y
s e . s r , a of bo d r e r, bea ten u p . I n the
C th d a l a t To l ed
a e r o .

S L I V R T T RADRACHM
E E S .

A . R e v e rs e w i th , c ra b a nd b o w in c a s e , a nd th e i n s c ri p
ti o n , KQ I O N MO Z X I Q N . C os , is l a nd o ff A s ia Min or .

3 r d cen t u r y B C . .

B . O b v e rs e , w i th a B ee (s y m b o l o f Ar te m i s
) a nd th e e t te rs l ,

E"
P p
E h es u s .
4t h c e n tu r yB . C .

C . Re v er s e , w i th V i ne a nd the i ns c ri p ti o n , Em M HTPO
AO O T . M a ro n e a , a Ci t y o f Thr a ce .
5 th ce n t u r y B C
. .

B M) A
( l l i n th e . .

S I L V E R T E T RADRACHM S .

D . Re v e rs e , w i th th e fig u re of Z eu s a nd th e wor d
AAE EANAPOT ; co in o f th e t y pe s of A l ex an de r th e

G rea t ,
p o ba bly i s s ued a fter
r hi s d ea t h . B C..
316
297 .
 D E S C RI PTI V E L I ST O F I L L U STRATI O NS . xv

E . Re v e rs e w i th ,
fig u re o f A t he n e a nd i ns c ri ti o n B ASp ,
I
AEQ E ANTI PO NO I ‘ ‘
. An tig o n u s , Ki n o f g ac e o n M d .

B C . . 2 7 7— 2 39 .

F Rev e rs e
. , w i th fig u re of Z e us , a nd th e i ns c r i p ti on

BAEIAETO NTO E AI AO O KA E OTZ A I KAI OT,

‘
i n th e
rei g n o f Aga th oc l es th e J us t . B ac tri a . 2 nd c e n t u r y
B C . .

G . Re v ers e , w i th fig u re of Z e us , a nd th e i ns c ri
’
p ti on

B AEIAED E BAzIAEo N APzAx o rz ETEPI ETOT

' ‘

AI KAI OT EII IQANOTE P a rthi a . B C

. .

—
57 37
H . Re ve rs e , o wl in a w re a t h of o li v e, w i th i ns c r i t io n p
II PIANEI . II TPI I A2
‘
KA . I ’
ri a n s u s , a c it y of C re te .

z u d c e n tu r yBC . .

8
4 4
B RO NZ E M E D AL s . I ta ia n l . 1 6 th c e n tu r y .

49 )

5 0 . B R O NZ E M E DA L wi th t w i n i p ti n th ne i d th ,
o s cr o s , e o ra s e , e

o the u nk
r s I ta l i . 6 th nt y an . 1 ce ur .

5 1 . I N CR I B E D L A B E L f m G t hi ta i n d g l w i nd w Th
S , ro a o c s e -
as s o . e

l tte pi k d w i th p i n t d ti k o t f l id pa in t
e rs c e , a o e s c , u o so .

E ng l i h s 4 th c n t y
. 1 e ur

52 . PAN E L fro m the c h i f Albi C th d a l Th na m f t h

, o r o a e r . e e o e

p o phe t (o a s m h f i t
r r th a ti s t t h g h t
ucn y o as e r ou ec e s s a r

t o i d e n ti fi c a t i o n) i n i d p t h b ac k g n d th q ta c se u on e ro u , e uo

ti n o n a l a b l
o e .

53 . PART O F A R E AD I NG D K w i th th m f F a n a nd S y ES , e ar s o r ce avo ,

l t t s L a nd c ll i n i b d PE RAND U M AC F E R E N
e er , s ro s s cr e S

DUM car ed i n i y d p i n ted F ench 6 th n t y

v vor an a . r . 1 ce ur .

(I n t h e p os s e s s i o n o f M S l ti n g ) r . a .

54 . GOTH I C TAP E T RY wi th fi g S n d i n c i b d s c r ll
,
Fr n h u re s a s r e o s . e c .

1 5 th c e n tu y (C l n ry M m.
) u u s eu .

P L AQU E S OF FA I E NC E I n i b d l a b l d to p y th
}
55 . . s cr e e s us e o cc u e

56 b ca kg ro n d uG u bb i 6 t h. n t y o . r ce ur .

57 . E N L ARG E D B OO KP L A TE In i p ti n n t f ll wi ng th c n . s cr o o o o e o

vo l u tio n o f the l a b l E ng
s d o n co ppe by H a n e . ra v e r s

S e ba ld Beha m Ge m n 543 (B M .
) r a . 1 . . .
xv i D E S C RI PTI V E L I S T O F I L L U STRATI O NS .

ENGRAV I NG O N CO PP E R The a l phabe t ins c i be d o n a s cro ll . r

H S B ha m
. .
(B M ) e . . .

PAR T O A S QUAR E CARP E T The o rna m n t c o n i s t a l mo t

F . e s s s

e nti e ly o f i n s c ri bed s
r ll G e man (V A M ) c ro s . r . . .

CYPH E R AND I N S CR I B E D L A E L S des igned f the A t B , or

"
r

J o u na l I ll tra ted C a t l g ue o f the E hi bi tio n f

r us a o x o

by W H a y Ro ge s (H V i C
‘

. rr rtue é ) r . . y o .

The w o rd S E CUNDUM L U C AM fro m a ma n u c ip t o f th

s ,
s r e

G os p l s e G e ma n . 1 5 th ce n tu y r . r .

Tw o na me C HAR L E S a nd MAUD i ntermi ng l d w i th y m bo l i c

s , , e s

a nd d a ti e i n ten t
ec o r (
L F D ) v . . . .

G OT H I C PE w E ND wi th l e tte G u s ed deco a ti el y F o m a
-
,
r r v . r

C h u r h i n S me rs e ts h i
c 4 t h c e n t u ry
o re . 1 .

I RO N B O LT P L A TE S i n the fo m o f a l etter F F e nc h Period

-
r . r .

of F ra nco i s I er .

65 . BO RD E R o r A PAG E fro m The Bo o k o f W edd i ng Da y s “

.

Bran h s o f the b rier s e pp o pria t to the mo nth

c e ro , a r e ,

s pe ll J UN E Des igned by W a l te C rane

. r .

66 . E N GRAV E D PAN E L i n whi c h fl ri d G o th ic fo l ia ge res o l es

, o v

i ts el f u po n e a m i na ti o n i nto th a t fi rs t ns pe c te d wo rd
, x , e u us

I S RA E L and (s idewa ys ) th l e tter M S b s id ia ry l a be l

, e . u s

bea r mo ttoes D a g l o ia m D o e tc F o m a pri nt (i n r e ,

”
. r

w hi c h h o w e e r t he d es i g n i s re ers ed ) e ng a e d by
, v , v , r v

I ae l
sr n M e c k e ne n
va G erma n 1 5 th c e n tu y (B M ) . . r . . .

67 . The l ette rs l Rd w ith s o l i ttle ega d to s hape

L L S v , c o o u re ,
r r

as f r th er to d i g u is e a l ea dy fl
u i d fo ms E m b ro id ered
s r or r .
.

bo rd er w i s e o n l i nen Ge ma n G o thic (V A M )
-
, . r . . . .

68 . G OLD E N V OT IV E CR OW N fo nd n a To led o S u s pen ded fro m , u e r .

i t i n th fo m o f a fri nge a re the l e tters RE C C E S S V I NTH U S

e r ,

i n c l o i o nn d mos a i c o f co l o u red s to ne
s e V i s i g o t hi c s .

wo rk ma ns hi p o f the 7 th c e n tu y (C l u n y M u eu m ) r . s .

69 . M E RCHAN T S M AR K ’

, in re l i ef u po n a b ro nz e m emo ri a l ta b let
a t N u re m be rg . 1 61 6 .