Tincture is the limited palette of colours and patterns used in heraldry. The need to define, depict, and correctly blazon the various tinctures is one of the most important aspects of heraldic art and design.
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What are the lines that divide a shield in a coat of arms called?
Partition lines divide the shield. The most common ones are straight. Impalement means the division of the shield into two equal parts by a straight line from the top to bottom.
What colour or metal is the heraldic tincture gules?
red
When heraldry was confined to display on flags, the tinctures (colours) were the metals or (gold, yellow) and argent (silver, white) and the colours gules (red) and azure (blue). Sable (black) was difficult in the early days because it was derived from an indigo dye that often faded enough to be confused with azure.
What are coloring tinctures?
Noun. 1. tincture – a substances that colors metals. coloring material, colour, colouring material, color – any material used for its color; “she used a different color for the trim” argent – a metal tincture used in heraldry to give a silvery appearance.
What are furs in coat of arms?
Ermine (/ˈɜːrmɪn/) in heraldry is a “fur”, a type of tincture, consisting of a white background with a pattern of black shapes representing the winter coat of the stoat (a species of weasel with white fur and a black-tipped tail).
What does red mean in coat of arms?
courage
Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. ♦ In heraldry, red is used to indicate courage. It is the color found in many national flags. ♦
What does Per Chevron mean?
In heraldry, the field (background) of a shield can be divided into more than one area, or subdivision, of different tinctures, usually following the lines of one of the ordinaries and carrying its name (e.g. a shield divided in the shape of a chevron is said to be parted “per chevron”).
What is a tincture made of?
Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking the bark, berries, leaves (dried or fresh), or roots from one or more plants in alcohol or vinegar. The alcohol or vinegar pulls out the active ingredients in the plant parts, concentrating them as a liquid.
What is gules color?
In heraldry, gules (/ˈɡjuːlz/) is the tincture with the colour red. It is one of the class of five dark tinctures called “colours”, the others being azure (blue), sable (black), vert (green) and purpure (purple).
What are the basic rules of heraldry?
Each coat of arms should be unique. The arms should be distinguishable at a distance, so the majority of components should be large, simple and composed of a very few tinctures (colours) The main charge (design on the shield) should cover its field (the whole of the space available on the shield)
How many colors are there in a coat of arms?
five
The Colours of Heraldry
The five traditional colours are, with their heraldic names: Red = Gules. Blue = Azure. Green = Vert.
What does black mean in heraldry?
Even the colors can have special meaning in a “family crest” or coat of arms:
| Color | Heraldic Name | Symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Azure | Truth and loyalty |
| Green | Vert | Hope, joy, and loyalty in love |
| Black | Sable | Constancy or grief |
| Purple | Purpure | Royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice |
Is the alcohol in tinctures harmful?
Most tinctures use ethyl alcohol, which is a high-proof alcohol that is commercially available and very safe for consumption. Given that the amount of tincture taken is very small (usually between 20-40 drops) the amount of alcohol consumed is negligible.
Why do royals wear white fur with black spots?
Ermine. Ermine is represented by a white field with black spots. It is the fur most commonly used in heraldry, and the spots represent the tails of this small animal, sewn to the white fur for enrichment. This is a regal fur, since ermine has long been associated with the crowns and robes of royal and noble persons.
What is a chevron on a coat of arms?
The chevron represents the foot of a house, derived from the French work ‘chevron’ meaning rafter. It signifies protection. The chevron was granted to those who had participated in some notable enterprise, had built churches or fortresses, or had accomplished some work requiring faithful service.
What do colors mean in a coat of arms?
Blue – Azure: Signifies loyalty, chastity, truth, strength and faith. Red – Gules: Signifies magnanimity, military strength, warrior and martyr. Purple – Purpure: Signifies temperance, regal, justice, royal majesty, and sovereignty. Maroon / Blood Red – Sanguine / Murray: Signifies Fortitude or victorious.
What’s the difference between a family crest and a coat of arms?
The coat of arms generally refers to the, cape, shield, crest and helmet, while the family crest technically only refers to the small image that lies on the helm (top of the helmet). The family crest is a component of a coat of arms, which can be used as a simplified symbol when the full coat of arms is too detailed.
What does a lion mean on a coat of arms?
The lion is a common charge in heraldry. It traditionally symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour, because historically the lion has been regarded as the “king of beasts”.
What does a star mean on a coat of arms?
independence
In the design of modern flags and emblems, the stars (mullets, usually five-pointed) when standing alone often represent concepts like “unity” or “independence”. When arranged in groups, they often enumerate provinces or other components of the nation (such as ethnic groups).
What do upside down chevrons mean?
In the United States, the army and marines use chevrons proper, (though prior to the 20th Century this was not true), while the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard use inverted chevrons. Arcs, known as “rockers” are also added to chevrons to indicate higher rank.
What does a bend mean in heraldry?
In heraldry, a bend is a band or strap running from the upper dexter (the bearer’s right side and the viewer’s left) corner of the shield to the lower sinister (the bearer’s left side, and the viewer’s right).