EXAMPLE 95
Square-lined, ornamentless furniture
EXAMPLE 97
Dainty and elaborate rococo ornament, as applied to furniture. Compare Example [98]
EXAMPLE 100
Slightly ornamental typography. Compare with chair [opposite]. Design by Will Bradley
In the conventionalized decorative art of all ages may be found traces of the things which have inspired the decorator. The lotus leaf, and the papyrus plant (which once gave writing material to the world) thousands of years ago influenced Egyptian design (Example [87]). Religion dictated many of the decorative forms in ancient art. The winged-ball-and-asps (Example [88]) was a favorite device in Egyptian decoration and has come to us by way of Roman mythology as the winged staff of the herald Mercury, the ribbons on the staff supplanting the Egyptian asps, but later evolving into serpents as in the decorative border of Example [125]. The work of the best artists is full of meaning. The Egyptians considered certain animals sacred, and they were reproduced numerously in the picture-writing and ornamentation of the time. The sacred beetle as conventionalized was much used. In Example [125] the cog-wheel of commerce is conventionalized as the rim of the ball, which also contains a seal. The anchor and rope, hour glass, wreath, torch, acanthus leaves, all are conventionalized and blended pleasingly in outline drawing. The tone of the border approximates that of the type matter it surrounds.
EXAMPLE 96
Square-lined, ornamentless typography. Compare with chair [opposite]. Design by Fleming & Carnrick, New York
