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Title: Ornament
Original Title: Fleuron
Volume and Page: Vol. 6 (1756), p. 867
Author: Jean-Michel Papillon (biography)
Translator: IML Donaldson [University of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh]
Subject terms:
Engraving
Printing
Original Version (ARTFL): Link
Rights/Permissions:

This text is protected by copyright and may be linked to without seeking permission. Please see http://quod.lib.umich.edu/d/did/terms.html for information on reproduction.

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.did2222.0001.263
Citation (MLA): Papillon, Jean-Michel. "Ornament." The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project. Translated by IML Donaldson. Ann Arbor: Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library, 2010. Web. [fill in today's date in the form 18 Apr. 2009 and remove square brackets]. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.did2222.0001.263>. Trans. of "Fleuron," Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, vol. 6. Paris, 1756.
Citation (Chicago): Papillon, Jean-Michel. "Ornament." The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project. Translated by IML Donaldson. Ann Arbor: Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.did2222.0001.263 (accessed [fill in today's date in the form April 18, 2009 and remove square brackets]). Originally published as "Fleuron," Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, 6:867 (Paris, 1756).
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Ornament ( Engraving and printing ). [1] This is an ornament in the form of a flower, or some historical emblem, usually engraved on wood or on copper, which is placed at the end of articles or chapters where there is some white space to fill. The ornament is much the same as a tailpiece. [2] Ornaments should not be made square; so that they are graceful they should end in a rather pointed form at the middle of their base and the angles on their top should be as it were rounded off. For all that, there are spaces that can only be filled by ornaments that are longer than they are high; it is up to the engraver to make the best of this shape by [skilful] design. In general, ornaments cut in wood, and these include signs [3] and tailpieces, are a little lower in height [height to paper] than printing type; this is so that their unsupported edges do not make marks on the paper and also are not broken off by the pressure of the press. But they can easily be made to give a good impression [4] by putting slips [of card] under the ornament. See cul-de-lampe and placards. [5]

1. fleuron Smith, in his Printer’s Grammar of 1755 (second edition 1787) calls many ornaments Flower-pieces or Flowers – even when there is nothing floral about them. Some authors use fleuron in English as a synonym for ornament.

Smith, J., The printer's grammar: containing a concise history of the origin of printing; also, an examination of ... the different sizes of types... second ed. 1787, London: printed by L. Wayland; and sold by T. Evans.

2. cul-de-lampe

3. placards

4. les faire venire bien

5. This article is not relevant

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