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Dutch Heraldry: A Historical Overview Dutch heraldry focuses on the use of coats of arms and other insignia in the Netherlands. Unlike some elaborate heraldic traditions, Dutch heraldry maintains a simple and sober style, harking back to its medieval origins1. Historical Context Significance in Medieval Times: The Netherlands, along with the broader Low Countries, played a crucial role in the development of heraldry during the medieval period. One notable armorial is the Gelre Armorial, compiled between 1370 and 1414, which provides insights into the coats of arms used in the region. Unique Characteristics: Unlike official heraldic systems in the United...

Icelandic Heraldry: A Unique Tradition Icelandic heraldry, while influenced by the German-Nordic tradition, has its own distinct features. Here are the key points: Coat of Arms of Iceland: The national coat of arms of Iceland consists of a silver cross on a sky-blue field. Within the silver cross, there is a bright red cross. The arms of the cross extend to the rim of the shield on all four sides. The width of the silver cross is 2/9 of the shield’s width, while the red cross is half as wide, at 1/9 of the shield’s width1. Distinctive Features: Landscape-Type Logos:...

The Coat of Arms of Ukraine: The Tryzub The coat of arms of Ukraine is a powerful symbol that has deep historical roots. Here are the key details: Design and Symbolism: The coat of arms features a blue shield with a golden trident. In Ukrainian, it is colloquially known as the tryzub (pronounced [trɪˈzub]). The trident represents strength, unity, and national identity. It has become synonymous with Ukraine itself. Historical Origins: The modern trident symbol was officially adopted as the coat of arms of the Ukrainian People’s Republicin February 1918. Its design has precedents in the seals of Kievan Rus’,...

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Heraldic Hatchings: A Monochromatic Language for Colors Hatching, sometimes referred to as “hachure,” is a conventional system used in heraldry to denote colors in monochrome representations of coats of arms. In this system, tinctures (colors) are symbolically represented by dots and lines. Here are the key points about heraldic hatchings: Origins and Purpose: Hatching developed during the Renaissance as a method of screening used by painters and engravers. Copperplate engravers faced challenges when producing colored illustrations, leading to the need for a monochromatic system to represent heraldic tinctures. Hatching served as a natural way to designate colors in black-and-white depictions...