Symbology question

[JoanaEQ]

(if this is the wrong board, please feel free to move it)

Hello!

I'm Joana, a portuguese restorer and art historian. I'm currently working on a beautiful 17th century crucifix covered in engraved mother-of-pearl. The base was broken in half and the entire piece is missing pieces of mother-of-pearl, which I'm now adding back.



http://pics.livejournal.com/888mph/pic/0000k293

As you can see, I'm missing half of this symbol. I can't, for the life of me, remember the name of said symbol, nor how it looks completed.

Could any of you please tell me its name or give a link of a complete image of this symbol, so I'll know what to engrave?

Thanks in advance,

Joana

Edit: Can it be a symbol for Auspice Maria?

2nd edit: Found it -> http://darbalina.files.wordpress.com...a-monogram.jpg

Thanks!

[BroRog]

(if this is the wrong board, please feel free to move it)

Hello!

I'm Joana, a portuguese restorer and art historian. I'm currently working on a beautiful 17th century crucifix covered in engraved mother-of-pearl. The base was broken in half and the entire piece is missing pieces of mother-of-pearl, which I'm now adding back.



http://pics.livejournal.com/888mph/pic/0000k293

As you can see, I'm missing half of this symbol. I can't, for the life of me, remember the name of said symbol, nor how it looks completed.

Could any of you please tell me its name or give a link of a complete image of this symbol, so I'll know what to engrave?

Thanks in advance,

Joana

I'm sorry to say that I haven't figured it out yet. Although I have some ideas that might trigger your memory.

I believe the oval shape is called an "egg" or a "dart and egg". I'm not sure.

The symbol in the middle looks like an "A" superimposed over an "M", which reminds me of "Ana Maria".

It might also be an incomplete abbreviation for A M D G Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam ("For the greater glory of God")

The initials might be of the artist or the one who commissioned him.

[JoanaEQ]

I highly doubt it's a signature, because I know I've seen it before. Plus the entire piece is pretty symmetrical and on the right side, corresponding to that symbol, is a Christogram (sp?).

Now, what you say about the M made me think that it could be a pictogram related to Mary. Which would make perfect sense, since it's a portuguese piece and most the portuguese sacred art is related to Mary, plus the center of the base is an image of Mary. We may be onto something, here.

Thanks!