It was an ordinary day. Once again I'm walking the streets of downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania searching for buildings that exhibit decorative frames around an oval or rectangular shape on the side of, or on the front of a building. The decorative oval design surrounded by scrollwork is referred to as "Cartouche." The design style dates back to the 16th century. This decorative design element is typically found over doors or entrances, above windows or at the intersection of a wall and a ceiling. Most often, the oval or rectangular is slightly convex and framed by a scroll work of ribbons or leaves. The Renaissance period brought back the cartouche after its long absence - since ancient Rome. The Italian artists of the 16th century would paint small vignettes on the low-relief oval and frame them with elaborately designed scrolls, flowers and other organics. The American Renaissance period began in 1871, not long before the Philadelphia Centennial exhibition, and ended during World War I, in approximately 1917. The resurgence was the belief that America was the heir to Greek democracy. Cartouches can be found both inside and outside of a building. For example, the Fulton Opera House in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania displays a cartouche directly below the statue of Robert Fulton, and they are in great abundance on the interior. All the major Renaissance buildings in the city of Lancaster were designed by C. Emlen Urban between 1904 and 1924 and typically include a cartouche. Though they are most often found on public buildings, including commercial, retail, civic structures and schools, there are a few examples of cartouche architecture on private residences. The end of the American Renaissance period, in the mid-1920s, ended the love affair with the cartouche. If you ever have the chance to visit the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, check out the architecture to see if you can find a cartouche design. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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| This is the old Hager Bros. Store on W.King St. |
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This is on the inside of Fulton Opera House on N. Prince St.
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This design is on the Kirk Johnson building on West Orange St.
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This is on the Watt & Shand Building on Lancaster Square.
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