Cartouche
car·touche | kär-ˈtüsh
noun
A swirling or scroll-like decoration that is most often a symmetrical design and is usually engraved as an embellishment
This jewelry term refers to an oval or oblong design on a piece of jewelry, such as a pendant or brooch, that has a slightly convex surface and is typically surrounded with its signature ornamental scrollwork. Cartouche designs are most commonly symmetrical, though they are intricate and contain several embellishments. They are engraved by jewelers into metal pieces to accentuate the piece of jewelry though etching. Cartouches have been used as an aesthetic feature for centuries. Not only will you find cartouches in European jewelry pieces from the 16th century and onward, but you will also find them in architecture (especially in Europe, such as on Louvre in Paris, France), as well as on renowned works of art that have been displayed at such esteemed collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In the world of cartography, cartouches are decorative emblems that appear on globes and maps.