_Built-Up Forms._--Even greater license (see fig. 161) is allowed in Built-Up Letters--as they are less under the control of the tool (p. 292)--and their natural decorative development tends to produce a subordinate simple line decoration beside or _upon_ their thicker parts (fig. 189 & p. 26). In MSS. the typical built-up, ornamental form is the "Versal" (see Chap. VII.), which developed--or degenerated--into the "Lombardic" (fig. 1). Here again it is preferable to keep to the simpler form and to develop a natural decorative treatment of it for ourselves.
"_Black Letter_" _or_ "_Gothic_," still in use as an ornamental letter (fig. 190), is descended from the fifteenth-century writing of Northern Europe (Plate XVII.). A better model may be found in the earlier and more lively forms of twelfth and thirteenth century writing (fig. 191).
[Illustration: FIG. 188.--(_See also figs._ 125 _and_ 150.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 189.--(_See also Plates VI._, _XI._, _XXII._, _figs. 79 and 84_, _and p. 420_.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 190.--_Ordinary Modern "Black Letter" Type_ (_see p. 331_).]
[Illustration: FIG. 191.--_MS. written by an English Scribe, in 1269, at Mons, in Hainault_--_Part of Colophon in large text._ (_B. M. Egerton, MS. 2569. Reduced five-sixths Scale._)]
Rightly made, and used, it is one of the most picturesque forms of lettering--and therefore of ornament--and besides its ornamental value, there is still in the popular fancy a halo of romance about "black letter," which may fairly be taken into account. Its comparative illegibility, however,--due mainly to the substitution of straight for curved strokes--debars it from ordinary use.[89] Though its [p336] distinction in form and _colour_ (p. 327) from ordinary small lettering, make it useful in arresting attention; as in a legal document, where the clauses are marked by
Its most effective use, however, is as pure ornament--when it does not matter whether the words are easily read or not. For mottoes, &c., painted or carved on walls or furniture, and for ornamental borders round tapestry hangings, tombs, book-covers, bowls, flagons, plates, &c., bands of such ornamental lettering are extremely decorative (see _footnote_ (2), p. 255, & also p. 364).