The Art of Contemporary Heraldry

The Art of Contemporary Heraldry Let us tell you something about coats of arms PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 More than 45 years ExperCse in genealogical and heraldic inves7ga7on Our aim is to guide the spirit of tradi7on into the modern age PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Genealogical invesCgaCon and visualizaCon What makes sour story unique: Once our genealogical research is complete, the findings are compiled into a very special collecCon—
your family chronicle. Genealogical fine arts: handpainted on calf skin The family tree a visual representaCon of your lineage. The pedigree A pedigree chart traces of your direct ancestors back through the generaCons. PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 What does „HERALDRY“ mean ? It means the science of coats of arms: -­‐  their history -­‐  their genealogical implicaCons -­‐  the art of creaCng -­‐  the granCng -­‐  the blazoning -­‐  the rules regarding the right of bearing PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 To adopt an exisCng coat of arms? Appropriate to the heraldic law: Yes under the condiCon you are able to trace back your main name-­‐line in documented uninterrupted male descend from the first coat of arms bearer No when you do not dispose of this proofs Warning: The mere iden7ty of the name does not en7tle to take in use an exis7ng coat of arms ! So, never spend money to people who want to sell you „your“ coat of arms only by name similarity. PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Talking about contemporary heraldry we need to understand the history of heraldry PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Coats of arms are children of the war. They came into existence during the Crusades about 900 years ago as signs of disCncCon for the knights taking part in military conquests. Exactly when that happened is lost in the depths of Cme. PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 At first the shield of a knight – the warrior in those Cmes – was depainted with geometrical peaces. Later on charges taken from nature such as birds, quadrupeds, flowers, furthermore symbols of all kind and finally objects of dayly use were depicted. PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Shield and helmet at first formed a unity of defensive weapons. In a further step the mantling and the decoraCon on the helmet were joined to the ensemble. The coat of arms, as we know it sCll today, was born … …. and with it the elements which consCtute a correct coat of arms unCl today. PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Shield, helmet, mantling and crest – unCl today indispensabel for a correct coat of arms PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 The style changed – the rules remained PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Tinctures limited: Two metals and five colors Or (gold) – argent (silver) Gules (red) – azure (blue) – vert (green) – sable (black) Purple – for ecclesiasCcal coat of arms General rule: Colors and metals have to alternate – no metal on metal, no color on color PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Coat of Arms Inves7ga7on or Crea7on The processes of both bearing a historic coat of arms and of creaCng a new one demand a strict adherence to rules established centuries ago. PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 CreaCng a good coat of arms The same procedure as 900 years ago PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN of A COAT of ARMS -­‐  The meaning of the name a so-­‐called “CanCng” Arms -­‐  Ancestral homeland and current family homeland -­‐  Professions and professional tradiCon – today and yesterday -­‐  Special events in the family history -­‐  Ideas and wishes of the founder PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 A good coat of arms – Task for the specialist The heraldist must adhere to the ancient rules of heraldry. These rules dictate, for example, how colors and metals can be used, which elements must be present, and most importantly, that a new coat of arms is unique from all throughout history that have come before it. PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 The Art of Contemporary Heraldry PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 Unique ArCsCcally Elaborated PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009 PRO HERALDICA -­‐ Booth 1009