posted 03-19-2007 07:11 PM            

Above is a presentation cup by either John or Samuel Warrington of Philadelphia, PA. The engraving, "Presented to S. Major by T & E. Bentley" together with the word "Sombretillio" has always intrigued me. Does anyone know what Sombretillio means?

The milled band forms a base pedestal and may be of interest to the glossary of milled bands.

posted 03-26-2007 07:08 PM            

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a fascinating topic. However, I recommended the following changes in terminology.
"Shields" and "Scalloped" are stylized foliate motifs. "Shell 1" can also be considered foliate (palmette band).

"Arches 1" is a blossom motif.

"Leaf and Vine" 1 & 2 seem to be laurel leaves.

For "Flowers, cables, & beads", I would use "rosettes" instead of "flowers".

For "Braided", I would use "interlace" or "interlacement".

The "Palmette" pattern you illustrate is a kind of modification of the Greek original. A true Greek palmette's leaves spring from a central, rounded leaf, which is typically flanked on either side by a scroll shape. In most cases where the palmette appears as a repeating banded design, these scrolls connect to the scrolls of adjoining palmettes. The palmettes shown here are just the top 2/3 or so of a complete classical palmette.

Except for the interlace and rosette patterns, all of those that I mentioned are common Neoclassical designs, derived from banded decoration typically found on Greek friezes and vessels, such as vases.

Though interlace patterns also appear in Greek decoration, the particular example you picture seems to tend more toward a Medieval Celtic origin.

The rosette, cable, & bead design is sort of a mishmash in my eye. The idea of rosettes alternating with pairs of beads does occur in classical decoration, but the present rosettes are less austere and symmetrical, and perhaps have more of a Renaissance feeling. The cables are just sort of there, and I think this is among my least favorite of all the decorative bands you have shown

Also having a Renaissance vibe are the strung discs bordering the basket-weave design.

[This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 03-26-2007).]

posted 03-26-2007 07:39 PM            

"Shell 1" is illustrated as an example of a shell in an online architectural dictionary - when you click on "shell" in the list of terms, this is what you get.; it refers to a specific type of shell known as a coquille.

Palmette is as close as I could get to an illustrated example. It originally reminded me of the shell derived designs on the back of some spoons, but I had used "spray" because there were other, more typical shells.

I agree that the "braided" design conveys a Celtic impression - I had originally toyed with a Viking related name, but since most of these designs are classical Greco-Roman in origin, I chose a purely descriptive name pending an applicable example from a citable source.

Poke around in the architectural dictionary or another such source, and if other such examples can be found, please post them, but not in the Glossary itself. Until then, short of actual errors, one name may be as good as another.