The medieval art of heraldry‏

The medieval art of heraldry‏
How to make your own coat of arms

COAT OF ARMS(COA)

• one man in armor looks at another during TMA knights used a coat of arms to identify each other during battle. You wanted to know who was coming toward you so you could know which side they were on.
• -n society where few ppl. could read and write COA became an instant method for identification
• COA later took on further significance and meanings -most notable they became a way of showing membership in the aristocracy
• Arms remained popular for usually identifying a person in other ways
• Impressed in sealing wax on official documentsEngraved on family tomb
• The descent of arm was and remains strictly regulated by influencePopular associations of COA with person all bested of a surname is a misconception

CURRENT USUAGE

• COA are used widely primarily as a way to give the members of a group or organization feeling of aristocracy-upperclassness the sense of elite membership in something special
• COA-(both offical and invented) are commonly associated with countries, cities, states, businesses, military units, colleges ect.

EXAMPLES:

• Moorestown police, rutgers university, baltimore ravens, Cadillac, uss new York-marine support cruiser - all non family

HERALDRY

• Heraldry is the science and art if describing COA(armorial bearings)

THE HERALD

• Heralds- become the people skilled in the description of coa
• Blazon- to describe a shield in words using heraldic terms
• Emblazon- to draw /paint a shield from a blazon
• To herald to announce -announce the identiy - translate images to words

EXAMPLES: The coat of arms of saskatchewan canada

• 7 basic componets of COA:
• shield- most early element of coa
• helm-crest/wreath
• mantling
• supporters
• motto /scroll
• compartment

THE COMPARTMENT

• design placed beneath the shield, usually rocks, grassy mount- some sort of landscape upon which the supporters are depicted as standing
• landscape, seascape, piece of geography, notable landmark intended to represent the land held by the beared
• ex: western red Lillies - canada

THE MOTTO

• phrase or collection on words intended to describe the bearers motivation or intention
• typically depicted on a scroll under the arms or else above it as in scots heraldry
• traditionaly in latin or other romance languages (french or Italian) as well as in English or German
• ex: canada- multise gentibus vire - from many peoples strength -
• 3 waves

SUPPORTERS

• figures-Human or animal standing on either side of the shield
• often have local/historical significance
• ex: the royal lion of England and the indengonous white tail deer

THE HELM

• heraldric elements on the shield were often also used for the deocration of knightly elements
• used the shield most often-it then became common to include a helment as part of the coa above the shield (or some other form of headgear)
• in some system the rank if the bearer was reflected in the type of helmet
• ex: type of metal and the number of bars in the visor notably used in France
• the shield is gold and faces left a symbol of saskatchewan -sovereign status in the canadian confederation
• the practice of including a helm continued long after the actual use of such helmets ended- other types of headgear now used -i.e the crown
• Due to their traditionl non participation in combat clergy and woman traditionally displayed neither helm nor crest
• ex: former Bristish prime minister Margrat Thatcher

THE MANTALNG

• drapery tied to the helmet above the shield, forming a back drop for the shield
• orginally a depiction of the protective cloth
• covering worn by crusading knights from their helemets to stave off the element
• Usually is drawn or painted in stylized "tatter" as is cut to shreds from the sword- blows of battle and colored in the two primary colors of the overall COA

THE CREST/WREATH

• The term crest is often mistakenly used to refer to the entire COA - FAIL!
• The crest rest upon the hekm, usually on a wreath of twisted cloths in the two principal colors of the COA
• often animal (but not always)
• Crest can be used on their own (particularly when there is insufficent space to display the entire COA)
• ex: The beaver (Canada's national animal) holding a western red lily surmounted by the royal crown.

THE SHIELD

• The main part of the COA
• Derived from the orginal use of the shield by knights in combat
• oldest element- most difficult to understand

THE SHAPE OF THE SHIELD

1. 13th century
2. 14 th and 15 th
3. 12th iberian penisula
4. 16th French today
5. English -variant of 4
6. Venitian shield
7. di cavallo - horse head - renissance
8. en cartouche - renissance
9. The targe jousting shield - Germanic countries
10. The targe jousting shield - Germanic countries
11. Common clergy shield
12. Lozenge- Woman Shield

NOTES FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2009

Kiera