How is a Coat of Arms drawn? Answer: Through “BLAZONRY”
Let's delve into the fascinating world of **blazonry**.
# Blazonry: The Art of Describing Heraldic Arms
## Introduction
**Blazonry** is the ancient art, craft, and practice of describing heraldic arms, coats of arms, and other emblems. It provides a formal language through which we can reconstruct the visual representation of these symbols. In this essay, we'll explore the origins, grammar, and significance of blazonry.
## Etymology
The term "blazon" originates from the French word **"blason,"** which means **"shield."** By the end of the 14th century, it had found its way into English¹. Although some heraldic authorities once speculated that it was related to the German verb **"blasen"** (meaning **"to blow a horn"**), this theory has been disproved¹. Instead, blazonry focuses on precise language and concise descriptions.
## The Grammar of Blazon
1. **Conciseness and Precision**:
- Blazon aims to eliminate ambiguity and repetition. It provides a minutely exact and explicit description.
- Unnecessary words are omitted, and every detail is specified with absolute precision.
- The nomenclature balances definitive exactness with laconic brevity⁴.
2. **Variability and Interpretation**:
- While conventions exist for blazoning arms, flexibility persists.
- Different artists may draw the same coat of arms in various ways, all considered equivalent and faithful to the blazon.
- Hard and fast rules are often ignored, allowing for creative interpretation.
## Elements of Blazon
1. **Escutcheon (Shield)**:
- The central element of heraldry.
- Blazon describes the arrangement of colors, divisions, ordinaries (basic geometric shapes), and charges (symbols) on the escutcheon.
2. **Field**:
- The background of the escutcheon.
- Blazon specifies its tinctures (colors) and variations.
3. **Ordinaries and Charges**:
- Ordinaries include elements like chevrons, crosses, and fesses.
- Charges are additional symbols placed on the field, such as lions, eagles, or stars.
4. **Supporters, Crest, and Motto**:
- Blazon extends to other armorial objects, including supporters (often animals), crests (above the shield), and mottos (inscriptions).
## Blazonry in Practice
1. **Creating Coats of Arms**:
- Blazonry guides heraldic artists in designing coats of arms.
- The verbal description takes precedence over the visual representation.
2. **Flags and Banners**:
- Modern usage extends to flags, where geometrical specifications complement blazonry.
3. **Emblazonment vs. Blazonry**:
- Emblazonment refers to the graphic representation of arms.
- Blazonry focuses on the precise language used to describe them.
## Conclusion
Blazonry is more than mere description; it's a bridge between history, identity, and art. As we decipher blazoned arms, we unlock centuries of tradition and honor. So, the next time you encounter a coat of arms, remember that its true essence lies not in the image but in the eloquent words that define it.
In summary, blazonry is the poetic language that breathes life into the shields of our ancestors.
¹: [Wikipedia: Blazon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon)
⁴: Charles Boutell, *The Handbook to English Heraldry* (1864).
: John Brooke-Little, *An Heraldic Alphabet* (1985).
Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/22/2024
(1) Blazon - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon.
(2) Blazonry Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blazonry.
(3) Blazonry - definition of blazonry by The Free Dictionary. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/blazonry.
(4) blazonry - WordReference.com Dictionary of English. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/blazonry.
(5) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon.
# Blazonry: The Art of Describing Heraldic Arms
## Introduction
**Blazonry** is the ancient art, craft, and practice of describing heraldic arms, coats of arms, and other emblems. It provides a formal language through which we can reconstruct the visual representation of these symbols. In this essay, we'll explore the origins, grammar, and significance of blazonry.
## Etymology
The term "blazon" originates from the French word **"blason,"** which means **"shield."** By the end of the 14th century, it had found its way into English¹. Although some heraldic authorities once speculated that it was related to the German verb **"blasen"** (meaning **"to blow a horn"**), this theory has been disproved¹. Instead, blazonry focuses on precise language and concise descriptions.
## The Grammar of Blazon
1. **Conciseness and Precision**:
- Blazon aims to eliminate ambiguity and repetition. It provides a minutely exact and explicit description.
- Unnecessary words are omitted, and every detail is specified with absolute precision.
- The nomenclature balances definitive exactness with laconic brevity⁴.
2. **Variability and Interpretation**:
- While conventions exist for blazoning arms, flexibility persists.
- Different artists may draw the same coat of arms in various ways, all considered equivalent and faithful to the blazon.
- Hard and fast rules are often ignored, allowing for creative interpretation.
## Elements of Blazon
1. **Escutcheon (Shield)**:
- The central element of heraldry.
- Blazon describes the arrangement of colors, divisions, ordinaries (basic geometric shapes), and charges (symbols) on the escutcheon.
2. **Field**:
- The background of the escutcheon.
- Blazon specifies its tinctures (colors) and variations.
3. **Ordinaries and Charges**:
- Ordinaries include elements like chevrons, crosses, and fesses.
- Charges are additional symbols placed on the field, such as lions, eagles, or stars.
4. **Supporters, Crest, and Motto**:
- Blazon extends to other armorial objects, including supporters (often animals), crests (above the shield), and mottos (inscriptions).
## Blazonry in Practice
1. **Creating Coats of Arms**:
- Blazonry guides heraldic artists in designing coats of arms.
- The verbal description takes precedence over the visual representation.
2. **Flags and Banners**:
- Modern usage extends to flags, where geometrical specifications complement blazonry.
3. **Emblazonment vs. Blazonry**:
- Emblazonment refers to the graphic representation of arms.
- Blazonry focuses on the precise language used to describe them.
## Conclusion
Blazonry is more than mere description; it's a bridge between history, identity, and art. As we decipher blazoned arms, we unlock centuries of tradition and honor. So, the next time you encounter a coat of arms, remember that its true essence lies not in the image but in the eloquent words that define it.
In summary, blazonry is the poetic language that breathes life into the shields of our ancestors.
¹: [Wikipedia: Blazon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon)
⁴: Charles Boutell, *The Handbook to English Heraldry* (1864).
: John Brooke-Little, *An Heraldic Alphabet* (1985).
Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/22/2024
(1) Blazon - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon.
(2) Blazonry Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blazonry.
(3) Blazonry - definition of blazonry by The Free Dictionary. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/blazonry.
(4) blazonry - WordReference.com Dictionary of English. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/blazonry.
(5) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazon.