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Some Special Interests => Heraldry Crests and Coats of Arms => Topic started by: BP1054 on Friday 16 February 18 15:32 GMT (UK)

Title: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: BP1054 on Friday 16 February 18 15:32 GMT (UK)
Can anyone help here?

I found a small piece of silver spoon engraved coat of arm as shown on attached picture. It looks like two bears (or maybe lions?) holding the shield with a crest on top of it. I can only image it's from mid or east Europe where I found it.

Any help deciphering appreciated.
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: KGarrad on Friday 16 February 18 15:52 GMT (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat! ;D

The coronet, on top of the shield, looks to have 12 pearls (7 of which are visible)?
So, perhaps a  Baron/Freiherr of the Holy Roman Empire.
Or a Baron, of Belgium or the Netherlands or Russia or Denmark.

The 2 bears/lions will be Supporters, to the sides of the shield.

The image isn't good enough to make out any detail. :-\
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: sarah on Friday 16 February 18 16:09 GMT (UK)
A crop and enhancement of image, only a small picture so it is the best I can do with 92 dpi :)

Welcome to RootsChat :D
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: BP1054 on Saturday 17 February 18 20:11 GMT (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat! ;D

The coronet, on top of the shield, looks to have 12 pearls (7 of which are visible)?
So, perhaps a  Baron/Freiherr of the Holy Roman Empire.
Or a Baron, of Belgium or the Netherlands or Russia or Denmark.

The 2 bears/lions will be Supporters, to the sides of the shield.

The image isn't good enough to make out any detail. :-\

Dear KGarrad, I tried another photo as posted. This is the best I can do and hope it provides more details? Any comments? Thanks!
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: Rockford on Saturday 17 February 18 20:39 GMT (UK)
Hi

Don't know if it helps much, but might the animal on the left hand side be a greyhound?  I believe they are used in heraldry.  The one on the right looks different and a bit goat like.  Neither looks much like a bear to me.

Best wishes

Rockford
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: Skoosh on Saturday 17 February 18 21:23 GMT (UK)
A boar & a tree?

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 17 February 18 21:27 GMT (UK)
Snap, Skoosh! ;D

There are some charges at top left and top right, too.
The boar is standing on level ground, I think.
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: Mart 'n' Al on Saturday 17 February 18 22:47 GMT (UK)
Could that be a crescent, left,  and five-pointed star, right,  in chief (at the top)? The left supporter might be a talbot or hunting dog. I can't recall what colour/tincture is represented by the horizontal lines.

The wavy top to the shield is not common. Also, is there a mound at the base, below the boar?

BP1054, Does the camera have a macro closeup setting for an even sharper picture?

Martin
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 17 February 18 23:23 GMT (UK)
As I said, the coronet almost certainly refers to a European Baron.
The "Renaissance" style shield shape is also more popular in Europe.

I don't have any reference works for European Heraldry :-\
Title: Re: Coat of Arms Deciphering
Post by: Liz_in_Sussex on Sunday 18 February 18 12:44 GMT (UK)
Here's a screenshot of the section of Renesse which applies to boars with one tree in European arms. I'm not sure what is in chief - definitely a mullet in sinister chief but no idea about the dexter - could be a crescent?? The horizontal lines are Azure (blue).

Liz