A traditional typographic ornament cast on a solid metal body, used to construct decorative borders, headpieces, or dividers. Unlike custom engravings, these are modular units cast in standard point sizes so they can be locked up alongside regular text. Compositors arrange them in repeating patterns to frame title pages or chapter openings.
Heard on the job
Build a 12-point border around that title page using the floral flowers from the upper case.
Insider tip
While originally depicting literal flowers or vines, the term covers any modular decorative type unit, including abstract geometric shapes.
Also heard as
- fleuron
- printer's flower