Bavarian Wappenbuch
Posted: 02 May 2013, 14:00
Heraldry Discussion Forum
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Ryan Shuflin wrote:http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00002248/images/index.html?id=00002248&fip=xsxsfsdreneayaewqewqeayasdasen&no=19&seite=26
Pretty interesting Coat of arms.
I do not understand the term "frankly silly" from Chris. My mind, these coats of arms, especially crests, is a beautiful example of a typical German heraldry.
Chris Green wrote:I do not understand the term "frankly silly" from Chris. My mind, these coats of arms, especially crests, is a beautiful example of a typical German heraldry.
I was referring specifically to "some crests", not to coats of arms (members of this august association would never use "crest" to mean CoA or achievement would we?).
For example, no. 28 has a fleur de lis floating in the air; Graf zum Haag on p33 has a crowned child holding a feathered cap of maintenance above his head; on p37 we find a hunting horn with feathers issuing from its mouth, and below a couple of party hats; on p40 no less than three examples of an axe head balanced on what looks like a cake or pie but is probably a hat; at p52 an inverted pair of tongs with feathers issuing from the ends; on p58 again the axe head but this time with feathers coming out of it. The examples of bearded men are legion, as are horns, usually befeathered.
Personally I find that the monstrous crests detract totally from the arms themselves, many of which are classical in their simplicity. I almost missed for example on p34 that two families, zu Fraunhoffen and von Fraunberg bore rouge a pale argent, only the crests being different. It would be interesting to know how this came about and whether it indicated two branches of the same family (if so why no difference, who was the head of the family?) or a feud over who had the right to the ancient arms (a la Scrope/Grosvenor).
There is meat in this Wappenbuch for a lively discussion of why in the Teutonic world crests developed the way they did. Were such crests used in tournaments in the 16th century? (they would not - could not - have been used in battle at this late date). What was the German fixation with feathers, often protruding incongruously from other elements of the crests?
Ryan Shuflin wrote:(...) The ever present linden leaves probably have some symbolic importance lost on us now a days. A(...)