Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval (page 4/7)

34. 34.—16th Century. Vatican.

Alphabet from a 16th Century manuscript in the Vatical Library. The letters are A B C D E F G H I K L M N P Q R S T Y, so that J, V, Y and Z are lacking. For J one would use J at that time, and U for [...] [more...]

50.—16th Century

This is not a good scan; I plan to replace it with one made at a higher resolution. Decorative initials suitable for use as drop caps or initial caps. They were printed in light brown in the book, but for this 300dpi alphabet scan I converted them to [...] [more...]

52.—16th Century from Wood Engravings

This is not a good scan; I plan to replace it with one made at a higher resolution. It is an alphabet with some ornate decoration and flourishes. [more...]

53.—Mongrams, Crosses, etc. [overview]

Monograms (e.g. IHS), gothic crosses and other religious symbols. [more...]

53.1.—Cross of the Holy Name

The closest cross I could find to this one is the symbol used in Cabbalistic mysticism representing a Holy Name. It is also similar to the cross used by the pope and other Papist dignitaries alongside their [...] [more...]

53.2.—IHS Monogram

The monogram IHS comes from the Greek for Jesus, IHESUS, or from the Latin Ihesus Hominum Salvator, which is, Jesus, saviour of Mankind (Jesus was the name of a religious person). A modern interpretation is In His Service. [more...]

53.3.—Clubs

This symbol is part-way between a clover-leaf, a Lutheran Cross and they sign for the playing-card suit of clubs, which in turn derives from the alchemical symbol for wood. [more...]

53.4.—Decorative Cross

A decorative cross. The outer part is an anchor cross or a fleur-de-lys cross. I have no further information on this one. [more...]

53.5.—Cross With Unkempt Hair

This might be a symbol representing a crown, with the crosses implying rule over a spirtual realm but with temporal power, such as an abbot or bishop. I don’t know what the hairstyle is about. Maybe it’s just a totally gothic cross. Or more likely [...] [more...]

53.6.—Cross with Circle

Perhaps the circle represents the world, the inner signs the four nails used to crucify the naked Jesus, the outer branches of the cross with the fleurons representing the religion itself. This would make it a variation of the symbol for evangelists, perhaps [...] [more...]

53.7.—Clubs On Legs

Possibly an architectural cross seen at the top of an arch. [more...]

53.8.—IHS

The monogram IHS comes from the Greek for Jesus, IHESUS, or from the Latin Ihesus Hominum Salvator, which is, Jesus, saviour of Mankind (Jesus was the name of a religious person). A modern interpretation is In His Service. [more...]