Heraldry - Digging up the past - from Richard the third - to you...

A coat of arms is the complete item - a crest is just the part above the shield of arms. In fact the coat of arms should more accurately derive from the description of the elements as issued and stated by the College of Arms. So in fact they can be interpreted in almost any way possible.

 

Hand carved coat of arms by Agrell Architectural Carving.

 

For example a fish on a shield could be carved in great detail or be a very simple outline and still be correct. The tinctures (colours) are important only by those that are traditional and are of two metals, silver and gold can be used. Then there are the colours - blue, red, black, green, purple, orange, blood red, mulberry red and various types of ermine - all described in old French. By the way that colouration was also used in churches - following the heraldic traditions. You can't place a metal on a metal or colour on a colour they must always be separated by each other.

 

Every part of the shield has a specific name for example "Dexter" is the left side of a shield as you look at it and "Sinister" the female side - so you can see how two ancient families with coats of arms can be complex as each shield is merged with the other.

 

If your name is "Petre" this is for you:

 

Here are some coat of arms and heraldry carvings all hand carved by Agrell Architectural Carving.

 

Cathedral of the Madeleine with coat of arms - all hand carved by Agrell Architectural Carving.

 

Hand carved coat of arms for the Bishop Sherlock's room, Fulham Palace, London. All hand carved by Agrell Architectural Carving.

 

Heraldry carving by Agrell Architectural Carving. A hand carved eagle for a court in the USA.