What is the name for the artwork on currency?
December 8, 2004 11:22 AM   Subscribe

About a year ago, someone posted a wonderful link over in the blue that detailed a certain aspect in the design of paper currency, stock certificates, and the like... it had a specific name, but I can't recall what it is — so I can't google for the Mefi thread.

What do you call the geometric drawing comprised of very fine lines and lots of repetition — they look a lot like spiralgraph output — that adorns paper currency, stock certificates, and the like?
posted by silusGROK to Media & Arts (10 answers total)
 
The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing calls it engraved lathe-work.
posted by headspace at 11:28 AM on December 8, 2004


Not sure if it helps, but the collection of bond and stock certificates is called scripophily.
posted by driveler at 11:37 AM on December 8, 2004


From this link:

'Some collectors specialise in an art style - popular styles include the soft, flowery and very decorative Art Nouveau (or Jugendstil) of the period around 1900, and the hard, striking, striking Art Deco of the 1920s. Well-known designers (e.g. Mucha or Catenacci) are followed by some.'
posted by driveler at 12:03 PM on December 8, 2004


Filigree?
posted by smackfu at 12:37 PM on December 8, 2004


Response by poster: I thought filigree, too... but that isn't it.

And lathework is one of the terms for the craft, but not the term that was used for the FPP over on the blue.

Keep the ideas coming!
posted by silusGROK at 12:50 PM on December 8, 2004


Lissajous curves?
posted by fatllama at 12:52 PM on December 8, 2004


I don't know if the term applies with engraving, but isn't this technique called crosshatching?
posted by majick at 1:05 PM on December 8, 2004


Guilloché patterns?
posted by letourneau at 1:47 PM on December 8, 2004


they're called guilloche patterns

on preview ... different link than letourneau's
posted by pyramid termite at 2:07 PM on December 8, 2004


Response by poster: Guilloche! Yay! Thanks!

And here's the link to the FPP that I found using the correct term: http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/5893

Guess it wasn't in the blue, after all.

: )
posted by silusGROK at 8:34 AM on December 9, 2004


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