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Monogram

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File:Sarcophage de Drausin 03 chrisme.jpg
The Chi-Rho, a monogram of the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ

A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a cypher (e.g. a royal cypher) and is not a monogram.<ref>The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (Fifth edition; 2002) defines it as a "device composed of two or more letters... interwoven together." Volume 1, p. 1820.</ref>

Many of today's monograms are embroidered on items for the home like towels, bedding, robes etc.

HistoryEdit

File:Albrecht Dürer Monogramm.svg
The "AD" monogram that Albrecht Dürer used as a signature

Monograms first appeared on coins, as early as 350 BC. The earliest known examples are of the names of Greek cities which issued the coins, often the first two letters of the city's name. For example, the monogram of Achaea consisted of the letters alpha (Α) and chi (Χ) joined together.<ref>Henry Noel Humphreys, The Coin Collector's Manual, Or Guide to Numismatic Student in the Formation of a Cabinet of Coins (Bibliolife, 2008), 226.</ref>

Monograms have been used as signatures by artists and craft workers on paintings, sculptures and pieces of furniture, especially when guilds enforced measures against unauthorized participation in the trade. A famous example of a monogram serving as an artist's signature is the "AD" used by Albrecht Dürer.

ChristogramsEdit

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Over the centuries, monograms of the name of Jesus Christ have been used as Christian symbols. The IX monogram consists of the initial Greek letters of the name "Jesus Christ," "I" for Ιησούς, (Jesus in Greek) and "X" for Χριστος (Christ in Greek). The "IHS" Christogram, denoting the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus, is usually written as a cypher, but sometimes as a monogram.

Perhaps the most significant Christogram is the Chi Rho, formed from the first two letters of Χριστος. The symbol was used by the Roman emperor Constantine I (r. 306–337) as part of a military standard.

Royal monogramsEdit

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File:Signum manus of Charlemagne.svg
lang}} – The cross-signature of Charlemagne

Signum manus (sometimes also known as Chrismon) refers to the medieval practice, current from the Merovingian period until the 14th century in the Frankish Empire and its successors, of signing a document or charter with a special type of monogram or royal cypher.

Monograms of the names of monarchs are used as part of the insignia of public organizations in kingdoms, such as on police badges. This indicates a connection to the ruler. However, the royal cypher, so familiar on pillar boxes, is not technically a monogram, since the letters are not combined.

Royal monograms often appear on coins, frequently surmounted by a crown. Countries that have employed this device in the past include Bulgaria, Great Britain, Russia, Sweden and many German states. Today, several Danish coins carry the monogram of Margrethe II, while the current Norwegian 1 Krone coin has the "H5" monogram of Harald V on the obverse.<ref>Coins Template:Webarchive, at the Norges Bank website.</ref> The only countries using the Euro to have a royal monogram as their national identifying mark are Belgium and Monaco.<ref>A commemorative €2 coin from Luxembourg carried the monogram of Grand Duke Henri.</ref> In Thailand, royal monograms appear on the individual flag for each major royal family member.

Individual monogramsEdit

File:Dress shirt monogram locations.svg
Dress shirt monogram locations

An individual's monogram may appear in stylized form on stationery, luggage, clothing, or other personalized items. These monograms may have two or three letters.

A basic 3-letter monogram has the initial of the individual's last name (surname) set larger, or with some special treatment in the center, while the first name initial appears to the left of it and the middle name initial appears to the right of it. There is a difference in how this is written for men and women. For example, if the individual's name is Mary Ann Jones, and Jones is the surname, then the arrangement of letters would be thus: MJA, with the surname initial set larger in the center, the M for Mary to the left and the A for Ann to the right.<ref name="3LM">Jeanine Twigg, Embroidery Machine Essentials: How to Stabilize, Hoop and Stitch Decorative Designs, KP Craft, 2001, Template:ISBN, p. 43.</ref> Traditionally, individual monograms for men<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> are based on the order of the name. The name Kyle George Martin would be written (KGM).

Married or engaged couples may use two-letter monograms of their entwined initials, for example on wedding invitations. Married couples may also create three-letter monograms incorporating the initial of their shared surname. For example, the monogram MJA might be used for Michael and Alice Jones.<ref name="3LM"/> However, monogramming etiquette for the married couple varies according to the item being monogrammed. Linens, for example, typically list the woman's given initial first, followed by the couple's shared surname initial and then the man's given initial (AJM). Monograms can often be found on custom dress shirts where they can be located in a number of different positions.

Some personal monograms have become famous symbols in their own right and instantly recognizable to many, such as J.R.R. Tolkien's monogram.

Other monogramsEdit

File:UT&T text logo.svg
The University of Texas monogram

Template:See also Some companies and organizations adopt a monogram for a logo, usually with the letters of their acronym. For example, as well as having an official seal, and the Texas Longhorns logo, the University of Texas at Austin uses a "UT" monogram (in the same color as the Longhorns logo, burnt orange). The New York Yankees baseball team also uses a monogram on their ball cap insignia. The Consolidated Edison logo, with a rounded "E" nested inside a "C", has been described as a "classic emblem."<ref>BusinessWeek online, Con Ed: The Power of a Logo, 11 August 2005.</ref>

Many fashion companies have a monogram for a logo, including Louis Vuitton and Fendi. The connected "CC" company logo, created by Coco Chanel, is one of the most recognizable monograms internationally.

The victor is a monogram of the Latin {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or Spanish {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} painted on Spanish and Hispanic universities to celebrate a student receiving a doctorate.

Athletes have also been known to brand merchandise with their monogram logo; notably Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Resistance symbols in wartimeEdit

File:Kotwica symbol.svg
lang}} – "Fighting Poland"

A notable example of a royal monogram is the H7 monogram of King Haakon VII of Norway. While in exile during World War II, Haakon VII spearheaded the Norwegian resistance to the German occupation, and H7 became a symbol used by the Norwegian populace to mark solidarity and loyalty to the King, and adherence to the Norwegian resistance movement. The act of drawing or creating a H7 symbol in German-occupied Norway was punishable by imprisonment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Similarly, in Poland during the war, the "PW" monogram was used as a resistance symbol, known as 'The Anchor' (Template:Langx), due to its characteristic shape. Its meaning varied, as the initials were useful for many different slogans, such as 'Poland Fights', 'Warsaw Uprising', 'Polish Army', and others. Like the Norwegian example above, its use was punished by the Nazi occupation authorities.

File:La Liga Filipina monogram.svg
Monogram of LLF

Another example is the monogram of La Liga Filipina. The monogram sees the letters L and F as well as two hexagons.

ZirkelEdit

File:Zirkel wiki glatt.JPG
Zirkel composed of E, F, V.

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In the Germanosphere, certain student societies (Studentenverbindung) use monograms known as Zirkel ("circle", as in "circle of friends"), consisting of the initial letter of the organization's name and/or the letters v,c,f or e,f,v, together with an exclamation mark if the society is still active.

JapaneseEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} A Japanese rebus monogram is a monogram in a particular style, which spells a name via a rebus, as a form of Japanese wordplay or visual pun. Today they are most often seen in corporate logos or product logos.

GalleryEdit

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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