Heraldry as Identity
In 1722 Alexander Nisbet wrote in hls "A System of Heraldry" that 'heraldry comprlsed 'hereditary marks of honour regularly composed of certain tinctures and figures granted or authorised by Sovereigns for distinguishlng, differencing and Illustrating persons and communities'.
Heraldry has been used for over 800 years as a means of identification, a visual interpretation of a name.
In an earlier illiterate age people could only be assured of the authenticity of a document if that document was sealed with a recognisable design.
From ancient times tribes and empires have used symbols and banners to identify themselves. In battle, on foot or mounted, fighting men wearing armour could see little and could not identify each other. Easily recognisable banners were needed to show who were friends or foe.
From these early beginnings there developed a system of emblems to identify individuals, and these personal Coats of Arms first appeared in Scotland in the 12th. century.
This system was controlled by people called Heralds, and by the 15th. century this new system of identlfcatlon took Its name from these people and became known as Heraldry.
Example
laan Buchanan illustrates the use of Arms during the lifetime of laan's Father. The Azure Bar in centre chief dlfferences the arms, and ls removed when laan ls able to use the arms in hls own right. ie. upon the death of hls father. The arms shown around the edge of the bookplate provide an heraldic Unit to earlier generations of the family.
To ensure accuracy the description of an heraldic design is always carried out according to strictly established rules. This written description ls called a blazon and the words used in the blazon are derived from old French. The tincture and metals have specific names:
Gold ls Or
Silver ls Argent
Red ls Gules
Blue ls Azure
Black ls Sable
Vert ls Green
Purple is Purpure
Heraldry is for the living and ls used to decorate many personal, or corporate items such as silverware, letterhead, envelopes, books, etc .. The use of heraldry, in both an historic and a modern context, ls wide, and bound only by the imagination of the individual or organisatlon.