Cul-de-lampe (typography)

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Example of a cul-de-lampe design. Michel - La Reliure francaise p 44.jpeg
Example of a cul-de-lampe design.

A cul-de-lampe is a typographic ornament, sometimes called a pendant, [1] specifically a tailpiece in the shape of a triangle marking the end of a section of text. [2] It may be a single illustration or assembled from fleurons. Alternatively, it may consist of text where each line becomes progressively shorter. For example, this is a cul-de-lampe ornament made with asterisks:

*****
***
*

Cul-de-lampe is French for 'bottom of the lamp', from the shape of the ornament. The plural is culs-de-lampe.

Cul-de-lampe text beneath a woodcut illustration. Manutius.jpg
Cul-de-lampe text beneath a woodcut illustration.

See also

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A Cul-de-lampe is

References

  1. Jubert, Roxane (2006). Typography and Graphic Design: From Antiquity to the Present. Flammarion. ISBN   978-2-08-030523-7.
  2. Herrmann, Ralf. "Tapered centring". typography.guru. Retrieved 8 February 2021.