Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval (page 1/10)

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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...] [$]

53.3.—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...] [$]

Decorative initial letter “H” from 16th Century

This capital “H” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and shows an archer, or more likely a jester or actor with a mask. [more...] [$]

Decorative initial letter “F” from 16th Century

This capital “F” is suitable for use as a drop cap (dropped capital) or a decorative initial; there’s also a small version for an avatar or icon. It is taken from a 16th century alphabet, and shows a bird, perhaps a pigeon or dove, and a flower, drawn like a Tudor rose but maybe closer to a daffodil. [more...] [$]

53.30.—iris or square-ended clover decoration

Either three petals and a stamen, like a lilly or iris, or perhaps three leaves, like clover; this is a 19th century redrawing of a mediæval decoration from an illuminated manuscript. [more...] [$]