[a. F. vignette: see VINET.]
1. An ornamental or decorative design on a blank space in a book or among printed matter, esp. at the beginning or end of a chapter or other division, usually one of small size or occupying a small proportion of the space; spec. any embellishment, illustration or picture uninclosed in a border, or having the edges shading off into the surrounding paper; a head-piece or tail-piece. Cf. VINET 2.
1751. H. Walpole, Lett. to G. Montagu, 13 June. He is drawing vignettes for his [Gray’s] Odes.
1802. Dibdin, Introd. Classics, 33, note. The engravings have a spirit and brilliance equal to the best finished French vignettes.
1820. T. Hodgson, Ess. Stereotype Printing, 132. In the American bank notes, the vignette, words, and writing, usual in such notes, are surrounded by a curiously engraved border.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, iii. An excellent guide-book and descriptive cards, surmounted by vignettes, were printed.
1880. Print. Trades Jrnl., xxx. 5. Charming vignettes, and head and tail pieces for bookwork.
b. An ornamental design, drawing or picture in a manuscript or written document.
1830. B’ness Bunsen, in Hare, Life (1879), I. ix. 347. How many vignettes did I make in my idea for my intended letter to my mother!
1860. Adler, Prov. Poet., xvi. 352. On the vignettes of the old manuscripts he is represented in the costume of a traveller.
1875. H. James, Transatlantic Sk., 213. Assisi, in the January twilight, looked like a vignette out of some brown old missal.
2. A photographic portrait, showing only the head or the head and shoulders, with the edges of the print shading off into the background.
1867. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 3182. Untouched and coloured photographic portraits, vignettes, cartes de visite.
1869. Eng. Mech., 17 Dec., 328/2. Our present style of vignettes, and the former style of cartes-de-visite, are … very pretty.
1877. Mrs. Forrester, Mignon, I. 296. He found a coloured vignette of her that pleased him.
† 3. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1790. Bruce, Trav., I. Introd. p. ix. Vignettes, or little ornamental shrubs, which generally hang from and adorn the projections and edges of the several members [of ruined architecture], are finely expressed.
4. attrib. in various senses, as vignette head, moulding, view, etc.
1842. Francis, Dict. Arts, Vignette moulding, a moulding ornamented or enriched with vine leaves, grapes, or tendrils.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 129. The prettiest effects were produced by the vignette views, seen through the depressions.
1872. Ruskin, Fors Clav., xviii. ¶ 12. I can get a pretty little long vignette view of the roof of the Pantheon … through a chink between the veneering and the freestone.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 501. Placing eight 3/4-lengths, eight vignette heads and so on together.
