The Enschedé Catalog of Typographic Borders and Ornaments

The Enschedé Catalog of Typographical Borders and Ornaments

The art of embellishing the written page with decorative elements, inaugurated by the ancient Egyptians, reached new heights in the late 19th century. As a result borders, ornaments, and other graphic components were in great demand by artists and illustrators. One of the most prestigious suppliers of this material was Joh. Enschedé and Sons, a typefounding and printing company established in the Netherlands in 1703 and still "the peer of any firm in the world." Today, over 100 years after its original publication, the company's 1891 catalog continues to captivate illustrators and graphic artists with the superior quality of its motifs and patterns.