Cul-de-lampe (typography)

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:

Example of a cul-de-lampe design.
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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.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jubert, Roxane (2006). Typography and Graphic Design: From Antiquity to the Present. Flammarion. ISBN 978-2-08-030523-7.
  2. ^ Herrmann, Ralf (8 August 2015). "Tapered centring". typography.guru. Retrieved 8 February 2021.