tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462946535883846881.post1006237331337885905..comments2024-03-17T16:32:51.970-04:00Comments on Vast Public Indifference: Squiggly 1CDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14390048358391513711noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462946535883846881.post-32855055915714389672009-10-10T18:27:17.738-04:002009-10-10T18:27:17.738-04:00I don't really. In typography letters with orn...I don't really. In typography letters with ornate tails are called <a href="http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.identifont.com/samples/jukebox/BookmanSwashB.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.identifont.com/show%3FIOI&usg=__eYMWKJzEE8n_eBKZOwjI4GWA6dI=&h=288&w=432&sz=14&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=DFRxtBxQSL0oDM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dswash%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG" rel="nofollow">swash letters</a>, and any good font of type will have a selection of swash capitals for ornamentation. These in turn derive from the calligraphic tradition of ornate initials. You don't usually see swash numerals in printing, however.<br /><br />Since these swash numerals are common on stones by The Stonecutter of Boston, the earliest carver known, I'd say you'd have to look to England for possible sources. I've noticed that both Park and Dwight stones in the 1700s often have fairly marked swash 1's and 7's (sometimes swash-left and sometimes swash-right; I haven't worked out a pattern). My guess is that there isn't any deep significance to it apart from the chronological idiosyncrasies of individual carvers, perhaps inherited ultimately from the Stonecutter of Boston.Robert J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12937384579138400443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462946535883846881.post-87128639289515299362009-10-10T16:54:48.585-04:002009-10-10T16:54:48.585-04:00I was just in Malden today and saw that very stone...I was just in Malden today and saw that very stone. Do you know anything about the origins of these embellished Arabic numbers?Caitlin GD Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05317897772288904474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462946535883846881.post-7315916720348099952009-10-10T13:18:54.974-04:002009-10-10T13:18:54.974-04:00I've noticed that the unnamed Stonecutter of B...I've noticed that the unnamed Stonecutter of Boston was very fond of elaborate swash 1's. Here's a <a href="http://luna.davidrumsey.com:8280/luna/servlet/detail/FBC~100~1~7445~214551:Allin,-Marcy?trs=120&sort=Name%2CDates%2CCity%2CStateOrProvince&mi=0&qvq=q%3Aold+stone+cutter%3Bsort%3AName%2CDates%2CCity%2CStateOrProvince%3Blc%3AFBC%7E100%7E1" rel="nofollow">random example</a>.Robert J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12937384579138400443noreply@blogger.com