Thursday, October 16, 2014

Norway, Part Eight - Monograms on Shields


While I can applaud the desire not to fall into the trap of erecting a perfectly good shield or cartouche and then leave it completely blank (see my last post for some examples of these in Oslo), I'm not at all certain that it's so very much better to do as these examples of have done, and place a monogram on the shield.

Monogram is defined as:  "A motif of two or more letters, typically a person's initials, usually interwoven or otherwise combined in a decorative design, used as a logo or to identify a personal possession."  And these are certainly examples of those, of greater and lesser antiquity.



This modern one from the building of the Høyskolen Campus Kristiania, or College Campus Christiania. (Christiania is the older name for Oslo, given that name in the early 17th Century after King Christian IV.  Apparently, it is good to be the king!)


So, I admire their desire not to leave a blank shield, but is this really as good as using actual heraldry there?

I don't think so.

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