| Savage Coat of Arms |
| Let me make it very clear that I am not an expert on the subject of Armory, Arms, Crests, etc. Having said that, let's look at some material on the subject: Is there a single coat of arms to which all Savages can lay claim? Not exactly, but there appears to be a common theme in the design of the various Savage coats of arms; six black lions against a silver background. |
Savage Coat of Arms - one description
(with my non-expert interpretation)
Blazon: Argent six lions rampant sable langued gules.
(A silver field on which stand six black lions with red
tongues)
Crest: Out of a ducal coronet, or a lion's gamb erect sable.
(The apex out of three strawberry leaves, or the erect
foreleg of a lion)
Motto: A te pro te (From thee for thee)
(with my non-expert interpretation)
Blazon: Argent six lions rampant sable langued gules.
(A silver field on which stand six black lions with red
tongues)
Crest: Out of a ducal coronet, or a lion's gamb erect sable.
(The apex out of three strawberry leaves, or the erect
foreleg of a lion)
Motto: A te pro te (From thee for thee)
Origins and History
The practice of displaying armorial devices on banners, shields, etc, dates
back to feudal times when it was necessary for a knight, with his face
covered by the visor of his helmet, to be recognized at a distance.
Symbolic figures were used as tribal emblems. The family, or clan, insignia
was embroidered on the surcoat worn over the coat of mail, giving rise to
the term, coat of arms. Thus, the original purpose of identifying the knight
in battle began a system of identification of social status. The practice was
brought to the American colonies and even today the seals of each of the
United States bear heraldic devices.
Design:
A coat of arms is made up of several parts, i.e. the escutcheon, or shield;
the helm, or helmet; the crest; the motto; the mantle; the supporters; and
the torse, or wreath. The escutcheon is the most important. The
assembled components make up what is called an achievement of arms.
To properly describe a coat of arms one must be precise in the use of a
heraldic vocabulary that has survived, in English, from about the 13th
century.
The term escutcheon signified a shield with arms portrayed on it, as
distinguished from a plain shield. The escutcheon is, in most cases,
shaped like a conventional shield. The shield is divided, from top to bottom
into three areas; chief, fess, and base and from right to left (of the wearer)
into dexter, middle or pale, and sinister. The shield bears charges,
(figures), in different colors, or tinctures. The term tincture includes the
representation of metals, colors, and furs. The most common metals are
(gold) and argent (silver). While gold is usually represented by yellow,
silver is depicted in white. In black-and-white drawings gold is shown in
white stippled with fine black dots, and silver by plain white. The principal
colors are red, blue, sable (black), green, and purple. The furs are ermine
and squirrel.
The following definitions are based on the works of C.N. Elvin (edited by Marvin Beatty) from his
original manuscript of 1879.
Lion: The noblest of all wild beasts, which is made to be the emblem of
strength and valour, and is on that account the most frequently borne in
Coat-Armour, as a Charge, Crest and Supporter. The Heraldic Lion is
always armed and langued gules unless such be the tincture of the field,
when, if not named to the contrary, it is azure. See Languid.
Helmet: The helmet of a King, or Prince, is full faced, with six bars, all of
gold, and lined inside with crimson. The Helmet of a Duke, Marquis, Earl,
Viscount, and Baron, is of steel, garnished with gold, placed in profile with
five bars, lined with crimson. The Helmet of a Baronet, or Knight, is of steel,
ornamented with gold, and is shewn full-faced, with beaver open, lined with
crimson. The Helmet of an Esquire, or Gentleman, is a steel profile Helmet,
ornamented with gold, the beaver close. Helmet with Vizor raised. If two
Helmets are placed on one shield to support two different crests, they are
usually set face to face.
Blazon: or Blason. A term generally applied to the knowledge and
description of armorial bearings according to the rules of Heraldry. In
blazoning a Coat of Arms, i.e. describing it, the Field is always first
mentioned noticing the lines wherewith it is divided, and the differences of
these lines, whether they be straight or crooked. Then proceed to the
charge nearest the centre, and name those charges last which are furthest
from the field, i.e. the charges upon the Ordinaries. The principal Ordinary
in the coat (with the exception of the Chief) must be named next to the
field. If the Ordinary itself is charged, such charge to be blazoned next to
those between which the Ordinary is placed. If there is no Ordinary in the
arms the central charge is to be first named after the field, then the
charge, if any, on the central charge, then the Border; next the Chief or
Canton with its charges. When a bearing is described without naming the
point of the Escutcheon where it is to be placed, the centre is always
understood; the same is also observed in respect to the charges upon
Ordinaries, or
Crest: A figure set upon a wreath, coronet, or chapeau, placed above the
Helmet. The manner of placing the Crest differs according to the rank of
the bearer. By all below the Peerage, it is placed above the Helmet, the
latter rests on the shield. Peers carry the coronet on the shield, and the
Helmet and Crest above; but in both cases the Helmet very frequently is
altogether omitted. Ladies are not entitled to wear Crests. But as an
appendage to sepulchral monuments Crests are placed beneath the head
of the armed effigy; are attached to the helmet, or are carved at the feet of
the recumbent figures.
The practice of displaying armorial devices on banners, shields, etc, dates
back to feudal times when it was necessary for a knight, with his face
covered by the visor of his helmet, to be recognized at a distance.
Symbolic figures were used as tribal emblems. The family, or clan, insignia
was embroidered on the surcoat worn over the coat of mail, giving rise to
the term, coat of arms. Thus, the original purpose of identifying the knight
in battle began a system of identification of social status. The practice was
brought to the American colonies and even today the seals of each of the
United States bear heraldic devices.
Design:
A coat of arms is made up of several parts, i.e. the escutcheon, or shield;
the helm, or helmet; the crest; the motto; the mantle; the supporters; and
the torse, or wreath. The escutcheon is the most important. The
assembled components make up what is called an achievement of arms.
To properly describe a coat of arms one must be precise in the use of a
heraldic vocabulary that has survived, in English, from about the 13th
century.
The term escutcheon signified a shield with arms portrayed on it, as
distinguished from a plain shield. The escutcheon is, in most cases,
shaped like a conventional shield. The shield is divided, from top to bottom
into three areas; chief, fess, and base and from right to left (of the wearer)
into dexter, middle or pale, and sinister. The shield bears charges,
(figures), in different colors, or tinctures. The term tincture includes the
representation of metals, colors, and furs. The most common metals are
(gold) and argent (silver). While gold is usually represented by yellow,
silver is depicted in white. In black-and-white drawings gold is shown in
white stippled with fine black dots, and silver by plain white. The principal
colors are red, blue, sable (black), green, and purple. The furs are ermine
and squirrel.
The following definitions are based on the works of C.N. Elvin (edited by Marvin Beatty) from his
original manuscript of 1879.
Lion: The noblest of all wild beasts, which is made to be the emblem of
strength and valour, and is on that account the most frequently borne in
Coat-Armour, as a Charge, Crest and Supporter. The Heraldic Lion is
always armed and langued gules unless such be the tincture of the field,
when, if not named to the contrary, it is azure. See Languid.
Helmet: The helmet of a King, or Prince, is full faced, with six bars, all of
gold, and lined inside with crimson. The Helmet of a Duke, Marquis, Earl,
Viscount, and Baron, is of steel, garnished with gold, placed in profile with
five bars, lined with crimson. The Helmet of a Baronet, or Knight, is of steel,
ornamented with gold, and is shewn full-faced, with beaver open, lined with
crimson. The Helmet of an Esquire, or Gentleman, is a steel profile Helmet,
ornamented with gold, the beaver close. Helmet with Vizor raised. If two
Helmets are placed on one shield to support two different crests, they are
usually set face to face.
Blazon: or Blason. A term generally applied to the knowledge and
description of armorial bearings according to the rules of Heraldry. In
blazoning a Coat of Arms, i.e. describing it, the Field is always first
mentioned noticing the lines wherewith it is divided, and the differences of
these lines, whether they be straight or crooked. Then proceed to the
charge nearest the centre, and name those charges last which are furthest
from the field, i.e. the charges upon the Ordinaries. The principal Ordinary
in the coat (with the exception of the Chief) must be named next to the
field. If the Ordinary itself is charged, such charge to be blazoned next to
those between which the Ordinary is placed. If there is no Ordinary in the
arms the central charge is to be first named after the field, then the
charge, if any, on the central charge, then the Border; next the Chief or
Canton with its charges. When a bearing is described without naming the
point of the Escutcheon where it is to be placed, the centre is always
understood; the same is also observed in respect to the charges upon
Ordinaries, or
Crest: A figure set upon a wreath, coronet, or chapeau, placed above the
Helmet. The manner of placing the Crest differs according to the rank of
the bearer. By all below the Peerage, it is placed above the Helmet, the
latter rests on the shield. Peers carry the coronet on the shield, and the
Helmet and Crest above; but in both cases the Helmet very frequently is
altogether omitted. Ladies are not entitled to wear Crests. But as an
appendage to sepulchral monuments Crests are placed beneath the head
of the armed effigy; are attached to the helmet, or are carved at the feet of
the recumbent figures.
 | |  | |  | |  |