2,286 Traditional Stencil Designs

by H. Roessing

Before the widespread development of modern interior decoration, builders and homeowners often relied on commercially available stencils to decorate ceilings and walls of houses and other structures. This volume reproduces two rare catalogs of such stencils, manufactured ca. 1918 and ca. 1920 by H. Roessing of Chicago.
Over 2,200 stencil designs include an enormous variety of attractive and boldly printed images: ornamental borders, corners and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486268454
• ISBN13: 9780486268453
• Release Date: September 1991
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 9.4" x 12.2"

Customer Reviews

Tons of stencils..

So many designs it's hard to pick one. I use mine for woodburning. But you will need to enlarge them. So if you need stencils this is the book for you

Used for engraving patterns

Excellent book for patterns! They are detailed enough without overburdening small designs. We'll be using this book for years!

excellent

This is a wonderful resource for design ideas! I use elements of these stencils as patterns for guitar inlays. The copyright info on the inside cover is generous allowing use of the patterns, "free and without special permission." in certain circumstances.

Great Resource for Designers

This book is chock full of great Victorian design. It has cartouches (ornamental borders), patterns, single filligree elements, and the best part is that they are all royalty free. You will need to scan the elements and clean them up a bit, but this book is a fantastic resource for the "flourish" trend that is going on in graphic design right now. Highly recommended.

Cache of Design for Decorative Painters

2289 Traditional Stencil Designs is the reprinting of two catalogues (circa 1918 & 1920) from "Excelsior" Fresco Stencils. It is a rich resource of ornamental motifs providing an invaluable record of American decorative tastes during the first quarter of the 20th Century. Restoration and Renovation enthusiasts will find some of the anonymous English and American inspired designs representative of the Aesthetic Movement and Early Arts and Crafts Movement useful for their projects. Lyrical and expressive motifs abound, along with French inspired friezes, Neo Classical laurel wreaths, architectural elements, festoons, medallions, rosettes, drops, cartouches, damask designs, and classic acanthus, egg and dart, and anthemion variations. The professional will delight in using document colorways to great affect. Subtle elegance of tone on tone designs produced from the 1880's to the turn of the century by Wm. Morris' original wood blocks are there for the masterly to emulate. These stencil designs are not for the faint of heart. They are small and do not have instructions. Many suites of companion designs offering wall, ceiling, and frieze groupings abound, but only for the practiced eye to locate. There are no arrows pointing the way. This book may be utilized to it's best advantage by professional artists, designers, and experienced stencilers who possess both a projector and a knowledge of document design. However, one needn't be a Renzo Mongiardino to produce a satisfying result. I was slow to warm to the book due to what I feel are a good many "dated" and clumsy designs that no wizard could dazzle. If only 25% of 2286 designs are of use to me, I'm content. I now own two copies. One for the projector, and one for the resource library. The cover art typifies the best of the book's content. It is not a fluke or teaser cover. Those finding this style of motif to their liking, will also enjoy the book's content.

Good Resorce book for Victorian stencil designs

This book has many beautiful stencil designs and is a good resource book for the professional stenciler. The designs are all copy right free. The only complaint I have is that some of the designs are printed very small and it can be quite difficult to enlarge it to the right size. Also some of the designs can be a little difficult for a beginner to cut themselves.This book is more suited for a professional or someone very experience in cutting their own stencils.