FReeper Canteen ~ A Day of Heraldry ~ August 17, 2006

linked in thread | August 16, 2006 | Ms,Behavin

[MS.BEHAVIN]

 

The FReeper Canteen's Day of ~Heraldry~

         

 

Heraldry is the practice of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats of arms and badges, as well as the formal ceremonies and laws that regulate the use and inheritance of arms. The origins of heraldry lie in the need to distinguish participants in battles or jousts, whose faces were hidden by steel helmets.

In the U.S., the word "crest" is commonly used to refer to a coat-of-arms. However, in heraldry, a crest is just one component of a complete achievement of arms. The crest sits on top of a helmet, which itself sits on the main and most recognizable part of the arms, the shield or escutcheon. Other elements may include supporters holding up the shield and a motto beneath. Crests can in fact be used on their own (this is particularly useful when there is insufficient space to display the entire coat-of-arms); but where the shield alone is used it should never be called a "crest".

Heraldry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

       

 

The knights in the Bayeux Tapestry from the late eleventh century carry no coats of arms, yet by the mid twelfth century personal badges were being used widely by nobility. By the reign of Henry III of England, arms were inherited, thus their judicial regulation became important. The practice of using marks of cadency arose, to distinguish one son from another, and was institutionalized and standardized by the fifteenth century.

In the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, heraldry became a highly developed discipline, regulated by professional heralds. As its use in jousts became obsolete (with the exception of rare revivals), arms remained popular for visually identifying a person in other ways — impressed in sealing wax on official documents, carved on a family tomb, and so forth. The first work of heraldic jurisprudence, De Insigniis et Armiis was written by a professor of law at the University of Padua, Bartolo of Sassoferrato, in the 1350s.

"Bartolo's book became popular in legal circles, but most heralds and knights did not speak the Latinate jargon in which De Insigniis et Armiis was written. Because of this linguistic divide, the field of heraldic law bifurcated. One was vernacular, and includes the works of Honoré Bonet and Christine de Pisan. The other remained in Latin, and, in Wales and England, is represented by the works of De Bado Aureo and Upton. This Latin continuation of heraldic legal thought spawned, in England, other vernacular heraldic texts, which are the direct antecedents of Tudor and modern studies of heraldry" (C. Levin)

Throughout the existence of heraldry, coats of arms have been executed in a wide variety of media, including painted wood, embroidery, enamel, stonework, stained glass and, later, computerised media. For this reason, and because its original function was quick recognition in the chaotic conditions of battle, heraldry for the most part distinguishes only six tinctures (yellow, white, red, blue, black and green; purple is counted in theory but its use in practice is marginal) and makes no fine distinctions in the precise size or placement of charges on the field, or the number of a lion's claws. Coats of arms and their accessories are described in a concise jargon called blazon, which for the most part ignores details that are conventional, and in nearly all cases details of varying artistic depictions, which tend to be small and not to help quick visual distinction. It should be noted that the property interest, if any is recognised, in the coat-of-arms inheres in the blazon and not in the particular depiction of the arms.

It is sometimes said that each element of a coat of arms has a conventional meaning, that white stands for honour, blue for loyalty and red for courage, and so on. While the original bearer of a coat may well have had some symbolism in mind, there is no reason to expect consistency from one to the next. In general it is impossible to say what a given coat of arms "means", unless, as is often the case, it incorporates a pun on the bearer's name.

The development of portable firearms made plate armor nearly useless, and heraldry, detached from its original function, gradually became more elaborate at the expense of clarity, both in content (e.g., landscapes representing battle sites became frequent in the 18th century) and in presentation (rococo frames overwhelming the content of the shield). The 20th century's taste for stark iconic emblems made the simple styles of early heraldry fashionable again.

Heraldry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

       

More on Heraldry coming in the next few weeks!!

 

Welcome to the Free Republic Canteen ~ honoring and entertaining our military and our allies and their families 24/7 every day of the year!  A gentle reminder from Ms.B ~ please keep if family friendly and fun in the Canteen.  We're here for our heroes and we want them to have a good time and not worry about all the political stuff going on.  Pull up a chair, kick your feet up and relax! 

 

[SandRat]

 40TH SIGNAL BATTALION

 

Distinctive Unit Insignia	Coat of Arms

Distinctive Unit Insignia.  Description:  A silver color metal and enamel device

1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of the shield and motto of the coat of arms.

            Symbolism:  The background of the shield is black.  The bend is orange bordered in silver for Signal Corps.  The silver peach is symbolic of the State of  Georgia, the origin of the cadre and original officers of the 29th Signal Construction Battalion.  The horse's head represents the state of activation - Kentucky.  The telephone poles are symbolic of telephone construction, the type of work done by this unit; the two poles represent the second unit from one origin - the 29th Signal Construction Battalion.

            Background:  The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 40th Signal Construction Battalion on 6 Jan 1943.  It was redesignated for the 40th Signal Battalion (Construction) on 30 Jul 1954.  The insignia was amended to correct the update and correct the description on 23 Oct 2003.

 

Coat of Arms

            Blazon:

                        Shield:  Sable on a bend Tenné, fimbriated Argent between in chief a peach leaved and in base a horse's head couped two telephone poles of single arm each palewise of the third.

                        Crest:  On a wreath of the colors Argent and Sable a mural crown of the first masoned Sable and charged with a lion passant guardant Azure, armed and langued Gules and enfiled by an oriental pole arm of the last.

                        Motto:  BENE FACTUM (Well Done)

            Symbolism: 

                        Shield: The background of the shield is black.  The bend is orange bordered in silver for Signal Corps.  The silver peach is symbolic of the State of  Georgia, the origin of the cadre and original officers of the 29th Signal Construction Battalion.  The horse's head represents the state of activation - Kentucky.  The telephone poles are symbolic of telephone construction, the type of work done by this unit; the two poles represent the second unit from one origin - the 29th Signal Construction Battalion.

                        Crest: The lion adapted from the arms of Normandy commemorates the unit's initial combat service, while the mural crown with its five embattlements represents the total combined campaigns credited the organization for service in France and Europe during World War II.  The polearm is indicative of service in Vietnam and its two outer scarlet blades allude to the Meritorious Unit Commendations awarded during that period.

            Background:  The coat of arms was originally approved on 6 Jan 1943, for the 40th Signal Construction Battalion.  On 30 Jul 1954, it was redesignated for the 40th Signal Battalion (Construction).  The coat of arms was amended to include a crest to the design on 25 Apr 1973.  The insignia was amended to correct the blazon of the shield on 23 Oct 2003.

 

[fatima]

Hi Beautiful.(((Hugs)))Nice to see you are up.

[SandRat]

1ST SPACE BATTALION
DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA	COAT OF ARMS

 

Distinctive Unit Insignia.  Description:   A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned:  Sable, a chevronel Or, between in chief three mullets in chevron Argent; issuant from base a terrestrial globe fimbriated of the third, land masses Silver Gray, surmounted by a sword erect Proper, between two lightning flashes arched dexter and sinister Argent.  Attached below the shield a Black scroll doubled and inscribed “SPACE WARRIORS” in Silver.

        Symbolism:  Teal and yellow are the colors traditionally used by Branch Immaterial, with which 1st Space Battalion is associated.  Black signifies outer space.  The chevron symbolizes support, and combined with the terrestrial globe represents the Battalion’s mission of global space support.  The arched lightning flashes suggest the continuous striking capabilities for decisive combat power.  The sword indicates the unit’s designation; also, total military preparedness and defense.  The stars refer to the assigned units of the 1st Space Battalion:  Headquarters Company, 1st Space Company and 2d Space Company. 

        Background:   The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 18 November 2003.  The insignia was amended to correct the symbolism on 24 December 2003.

 

Coat of Arms.

        Blazon:  

                 Shield:   Sable, a chevronel Or, between in chief three mullets in chevron Argent; issuant from base a terrestrial globe fimbriated of the third, land masses Silver Gray, surmounted a sword erect Proper, between two lightning flashes arched dexter and sinister Argent.

                 Crest:   None.

                 Motto:   SPACE WARRIORS.

        Symbolism:

                Shield:   Teal and yellow are the colors traditionally used by Branch Immaterial, with which 1st Space Battalion is associated.  Black signifies outer space.  The chevron symbolizes support, and combined with the terrestrial globe represents the Battalion’s mission of global space support.  The arched lightning flashes suggest the continuous striking capabilities for decisive combat power.  The sword indicates the unit’s designation; also, total military preparedness and defense.  The stars refer to the assigned units of the 1st Space Battalion:  Headquarters Company, 1st Space Company and 2d Space Company. 

                Crest:   None.

                Background:   The coat of arms was approved on 18 November 2003.  The insignia was amended to correct the symbolism on 24 December 2003.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Some pretty cool heraldry you got going here, Sand. Fun to read about.

[Kathy in Alaska]

fatima...((HUGS)) good to see you. Got a baby yet?

[luvie]

PJ is very effective in that regard. He should be required reading to put things into perspective! :D

I have really enjoyed his stuff.

[luvie]

Not for long...early day tomorrow. But I couldn't leave without hugging you, sweet lady!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Thanks Sissy!
Lookee what I can do!
I done got punctuation!?!!!
LOL
Ms.B

[SandRat]

well?

[SandRat]

well?

[SandRat]

well?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hmmmmm.....I'm having a hard time finding a favorite. The Space Battalion is way cool.

[luvie]

Splendid!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh...that felt good, didn't it! :D

[Kathy in Alaska]

So, are you back in the closet, only your pet spider for company, and your punctuation? LOL!!

[mylife]

Gnight gang I got a HUGE day at the dentist in the AM. 2 porcelain overlays.

Cyall later

Cadillac Ranch

[luvie]

Nighty-night! Now that sounds like sooooooo much fun! NOT!

See ya tomorrow.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Star and Tonk walked me through my very first one..
Tonk gave me an alka seltzer the size of a pizza
LOL
Now that I am an "old hand" at posting threads..
I only take Valium in minute doses..
LOL
Ms.B

[fatima]

:)(((Hugs))) In between everything else-LIFE goes on.Baby Claire Marie arrived and you better wash your hands and wipe your feet-mind as you go.Also all children are banned from seeing her-:)She is our first great-grandchild and has lots of black Italian hair and is as pretty as her mother whom I am very proud of.

[luvie]

*sigh* And now that you have punctuation..I gotta go to bed.

See ya tomorrow, Sis! ((((hugs))))

BTW...where is our other Sissy? Haven't seen her in sooooo long!

Nite!

[fatima]

Night Beautiful.