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A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or . A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a cypher (e.g. a royal cypher) and is not a monogram.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.
Monograms have been used as signatures by artists and Artisan 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.
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.
Monograms of the names of 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 , 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 krone carry the monogram of Margrethe II, while the current Norwegian 1 Norwegian krone has the "H5" monogram of Harald V on the obverse. Coins , at the Norges Bank website. The only countries using the Euro to have a royal monogram as their national identifying mark are Belgium and Monaco.A commemorative €2 coin from Luxembourg carried the monogram of Grand Duke Henri. In Thailand, royal monograms appear on the individual flag for each major royal family member.
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.Jeanine Twigg, Embroidery Machine Essentials: How to Stabilize, Hoop and Stitch Decorative Designs, KP Craft, 2001, , p. 43. Traditionally, individual monograms for men 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. 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.
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 victor or Spanish vítor 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.
Similarly, in Poland during the war, the "PW" monogram was used as a resistance symbol, known as 'The Anchor' (links=no), 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.
example is the monogram of La Liga Filipina. The monogram sees the letters L and F as well as two (from what I can describe of the monogram) prisms. The organization was disbanded 3 days after. (7/6/1892)
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