Question about Alfa Romeo insignia...
11-15-2007, 11:09 PM
#1
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Question about Alfa Romeo insignia...
Is that a snake eating a guy...?
I just noticed it up close today and have no clue what's the meaning/symbolism of the car manufacturer's insignia...Just wondering if anyone has some info/history to share? Thanks!
11-15-2007, 11:15 PM
#3
_____ like a rabbit
In 1910 a draughtsman named Romano Cattaneo was given the job of coming up with a badge for a new Milan-based company, ALFA. The story goes that as he was waiting for a tram at the Piazza Castello terminus in Milan, he gained inspiration from the great Visconti family's red cross and biscione (child-devouring serpent) coat of arms emblazoned over the great door of Castello Sforzesco.
With the help of Giuseppe Merosi, a designer, his sketches incorporated both the City of Milan's emblem and that of the Visconti family in a circular motif, bordered by a dark blue metallic ring containing the inscription "ALFA - ROMEO" and "MILANO" separated by two Savoy dynasty knots.
After the victory of the P2 in the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, Alfa added a laurel wreath around the logo.
The name "Milano", the hyphen and the Savoy knots were eliminated when Alfa Romeo opened the factory at Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples in early 1970s.
With the help of Giuseppe Merosi, a designer, his sketches incorporated both the City of Milan's emblem and that of the Visconti family in a circular motif, bordered by a dark blue metallic ring containing the inscription "ALFA - ROMEO" and "MILANO" separated by two Savoy dynasty knots.
After the victory of the P2 in the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, Alfa added a laurel wreath around the logo.
The name "Milano", the hyphen and the Savoy knots were eliminated when Alfa Romeo opened the factory at Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples in early 1970s.
11-15-2007, 11:18 PM
#4
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Interesting...! But, what an interesting couple of sources for an insignia...
11-15-2007, 11:23 PM
#6
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Creepy, if you ask me. 
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11-16-2007, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by sho_nuff1997
wouldn't the visconti family have some sort of rights to their coat of arms?
Hard for me to imagine that someone making a car emblem out of a family crest wouldn't at least consult them first...
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