Post by Hans-Jürgen von Knappe on Aug 17, 2006 9:28:42 GMT -6
Blazon is an heraldic language adopted by early heralds to regulate and control the use of colors, charges, and so on. This language is originally in French and Latin and still uses words from these languages.
Blazon totally and precisely describes a coat of arms in such a way that there is no room for doubt or confusion. The coat of arms shall centered on a shield, its most important component. There are five heraldic colors, which are called tinctures namely the following -“Purpure” (purple), “Sable” (black), “Vert” (green), “Azure” (blue) and “Gules” (red). There are also two metals and several furs namely - “Gold” (Or) can be depicted as yellow, “Silver” (Argent) is depicted as white.
The most common furs are Ermine and Vair (grey squirrel). Rules were developed whereby tincture was never placed over tincture or metal over metal. The surface of the Shield is known as the field and the art of good heraldry is to keep the field as simple as possible, using as few tinctures, metals, shapes and objects as possible.
Blazoning a coat of arms is the heraldic term for describing a coat of arms. First the Field (background) of the shield shall described, then the principal charge, followed by lesser charges on the field and lesser charges on the principal charge. A full coat of arms, in heraldry the correct term is an Achievement of Arms, usually includes the shield, the crest and the helmet of rank, a motto often appears but is not strictly necessary. In certain cases the shield maybe held by figures, animals or fabulous beasts, called supporters. Therefore, the blazon builds a “step by step” picture of a coat of arms.
Nota : Purpure is no more used in modern heraldic.
