I never know what to call these mythical creatures that look a bit like a dragon crossed with a sea horse. I see this one as a sea horse vignette – notice the horse-like noses on them. It looks like a publisher’s stock image sort of engraving. Probably a small plate sold to publishers and used in multiple books. It dates back to at least 1880, when it was included in Petals Plucked from Sunny Climes.
It’s really a shame that this vignette and a number of the other page spacers and borders used in this book were so small. It’s getting harder and harder to find new ones to share with you.
The sea horse vignette has a pair of sea horses swimming away from what looks like a large goblet or trophy. Swirls, curls and a few leaves tie the three motifs together and adding interest to the entire piece.
This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown.
