The Uncial-style of writing has made a long-lasting impact on the design of today. Depending on the subject, many businesses choose to integrate this typeface into their logo. One such restaurant --The Four Green Fields-- is located right in the City of Tampa. Titled from the 60’s folk ballad, the Four Green Fields is a popular pub and restaurant local to the Tampa Bay area. In its creation, the restaurant’s sign has many similarities to the Uncial typeface.
Originating from before the thousandth century, Uncial script emerged from the earliest of literature. First created around 300 CE, uncials derived directly from the ease of creation. The script eventually evolved to incorporate upper-case and minuscules and continued to evolve to a form that was even more humanist.
The typeface of the Four Green Fields holds a strong stylistic resemblance. As shown from the sign, the typeface contains both upper and lower-case letters and many of the letters are written in an upright position. This is very similar to the Roman and Irish uncials because of the minuscules and capitals in the Roman typeface, and the upright positioning of the Irish uncials. Although it is difficult to determine which exact style of uncial is used for this sign, the numbers at the bottom right corner lead towards a more Roman-style typeface. However, because the restaurant is styled around the Irish culture, it could be said that the design of the restaurant is a reflection on Ireland and its past. And the best way to reflect that in the design is through the uncial script, which was the very script that was adapted to write the Book of Kells, a book of four gospels that is now regarded as Ireland's finest treasure.
Although the typeface of the Four Green Fields holds a strong resemblance to uncials on the surface, the meaning and use for this typeface are completely different for each. The development of uncials was centered around efficiency. Back during the first thousand centuries, the only manuscripts produced were from the church. In order to get the message of the church out to as many people as possible, books needed to use minimal amounts of materials and fit a maximum amount of information. They also needed to be written quickly. This is where the uncials came in to play. The compact form was not only legible, but it also used less material which resulted in rapid manuscript production. This was the opposite of what the typeface is used for today. Today, the goal of the four green fields is to create an environment in which the customer was transported to Ireland. As described by Seamus Payne, a restaurant critic, “With its thatched roof, white-washed walls and Irish memorabilia, the pub on W Platt Street has long been a popular watering hole for downtown drinkers". Christopher O'Donnell agrees with this statement, stating that the “Four Green Fields is about good food, great music, fine drinks and excellent company in a very sunny city". The purpose of including a religiously-associated uncial typeface with said intention of leisure? A restaurant/pub meant purely for the enjoyment of Irish culture.
"With its thatched roof, white-washed walls and Irish memorabilia, the pub on W Platt Street has long been a popular watering hole for downtown drinkers"
Despite the fact that the meaning behind both uncial styles is quite different, it is the impact the uncials of the past have made on history that gives it a connection to the Irish culture. Due to its age and significance, this typeface has given businesses like the four green fields –and many designers alike– the ability to achieve a certain aesthetic with their product.
Sources:
“About Four Green Fields.” Four Green Fields, Imbibe Magazine, www.fourgreenfields.com/about/.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Uncial.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Feb. 2009, www.britannica.com/topic/uncial.
“How Handwriting Developed.” Design History, designhistory.org/Handwriting_pages/Uncials.html.
O'Donnell, Christopher. “Four Green Fields Pub Chosen to Bring Irish Flavor to Curtis Hixon Park.” Tampa Bay, Florida News, 6 July 2017, www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/four-green-fields-pub-chosen-to-bring-irish-flavor-to-curtis-hixon-park/2329458.
Payne, Seamus. “Four-Green-Fields---Front-Exterior-Angle-Day.” TheCoolist, www.thecoolist.com/authentic-irish-pub-experience-four-green-fields-florida/four-green-fields-front-exterior-angle-day/.
Woodland, Kevin. “New Forms of Writing.” Graphic Design History. 2019, kevinwoodland.squarespace.com/new-forms-of-writing.