Homer Wayland Colby, American, 1874–1950 - Tailpiece - ca. 1910 - T-Shirt

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Homer Wayland Colby, American, 1874–1950 - Tailpiece - ca. 1910 - T-Shirt

This is an allegorical emblem in fine line engraving, drawn by American illustrator Homer Wayland Colby around 1910 as a decorative tailpiece.

Visual Elements & Composition

Off-white fills most of the design, with black linework carrying the detail. A rectangular panel and a circular ring frame the central emblem, giving the composition a clear, balanced structure. At the centre, an upright sword stands beside balance scales with two pans, while a torch with a flame rises alongside them. An open book or tablet sits behind the emblem, and ribbon scrolls wrap the arrangement. The word COLBY appears in the design as the artist's signature.

Meaning & Symbolism

The scales stand for justice and measured judgement, and the sword for the authority that enforces it. The torch signals knowledge and enlightenment, and the open book places learning at the centre of the emblem. Together these motifs read as a classical allegory of reason and truth. Tailpieces of this period closed a chapter with an image that echoed its themes, offering the reader a visual pause before the next page. Colby worked during a productive era of American illustration, and this piece reflects the careful craftsmanship that defined book arts in the early twentieth century.

Wearing the Artwork

A tailpiece was designed to be seen up close, and this emblem works the same way on the chest, where the ring and panel sit at eye level for anyone standing in conversation. As the wearer moves, the scales, sword and torch shift in view, so the engraving reveals more of its detail with each glance. Its compact, self-contained layout suits the centre of a garment, much as it once closed the end of a printed page.

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