New to Typophile? Accounts are free, and easy to set up.
Early American Art dealer typeface
Posted by whoisdan in
16 Nov 2004 — 8:35pm
16 Nov 2004 — 8:35pm
I'm trying to find the perfect face for an art dealer who handles American artists, many from the earliest years of America...Also some contemporary stuff.
My client wants an identity that creates a relationship with its customers, who are 50+ years old men who buy the art as a sign of wealth and achievement associated with hard work. Additionally, client is interested in how banks, brokerage firms, and other high-class businesses portray themselves and what they emphasize in design.
With all that said, I've gotten a few ideas from "world wide webbing" and Bringhursting.
Plantagenet Novus by Tiro
Caslon Not perfect, but hey. I like it
Electra Dwiggins is American, style is neoclassical
I like Bringhurst's mention of Ben Franklin and Baskerville, in that Ben and John were buds and Ben used Baskerville to correspond to the federal style of American architecture. Anybody got details on this?
User login
Support our Sponsors
16 Nov 2004 — 9:36pm
I think your Neoclassical angle is right on.
But of those three fonts, only Plantagenet is close, and not even very.
My first choice might be [a] Walbaum.
hhp
17 Nov 2004 — 6:30am
Walbaum is too late, maybe. He was working in the 1800s. And his work isn't "American" at all, at least from what little details I know.
Of course, maybe you could determine when Walbaum's type was introduced to the US. If that era correspond to the type of furniture that the shop is selling, it could be a go
17 Nov 2004 — 8:20am
Historical fidelity is one thing, good design is another.
The story about Franklin doing a switcharoo is true (if one of his letters to Baskerville is to be believed), but it was done in the States, and only one way: he took a Caslon specimen sheet, tore off the top, and showed it to a Baskerville-hater saying it was Baskerville, getting the predictable layman-in-expert's-clothing response.
hhp
17 Nov 2004 — 9:36am
I'm only digging Storm Type's Walbaum.
Looks Filosophia-esque, but the caps are cash money for the letters I have to use for the logotype. Also, those numbers are great. It's also not too expensive.
Additional thoughts? I still really like Plantagenet Novus.
17 Nov 2004 — 9:41am
Is Plantagenet Novus even available for licensing?
If you are looking to buy a font family, licensing one from Storm Type *would* be a very good idea.
19 Nov 2004 — 7:41pm
What about Matthew Carter's Monticello, based on Binny & Ronaldson's types used by Thomas Jefferson. It is one of those typefaces I would love to have an opportunity to use.
19 Nov 2004 — 7:53pm
Interesting. Monticello is pretty nice. I am making a note of it. Thanks, John.
20 Nov 2004 — 7:03am
Dan did you do any research on competitive resources. I bet they all have websites you could visit. It might give you a better lay of the land.
On Franklin.
I didn't hear from him last year, I haven't heard from him this year and if I don't hear from him next year, I'm going to write him a letter. George Washington. (oops George W)