| | PAGE |
| Chapter I. | INTRODUCTORY | [1] |
| The Origin of Heraldry—Its Uses—Symbolism—Artistic Development—
The Character of Mediaeval Treatment—The Personal Quality—Fourteenth century Examples—The
Influence of the Tournaments—Renaissance Heraldry—Decadence—Gothic Revival—The Use of Examples—
The Aims of Heraldic Design.
| |
| Chapter II. | THE EVOLUTION OF SHIELD FORMS | [16] |
| The Achievement—Its Composition and Proportions—Modifications of Proportion—The
Design of the Heraldic Group—Essential Qualities—Variability of Grouping—The Shield—Its
Structure and Shape as a Fighting Defence—The Norman Shield and its Successors—Shields “for Peace”
—Pageant Shields—How they were Made—The Tournament Shield—Evolution of Decorative Forms—Foliated
Shields—Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century Examples—Freedom in Shield Design—Heraldic Accuracy—What
is Essential.
| |
| Chapter III. | HERALDIC RULES | [39] |
| A Simple Manual of Heraldic Facts—The Shield Surface—The Tinctures—Divisions of
the Field—Ordinaries—Sketches “in Trick”—Charges and their Arrangement.
| |
| Chapter IV. | ANIMALS AND MONSTERS | [66] |
| The Heraldic Lion as a Type—Examples of Various Periods—Heraldic Character—
Obligatory Poses and Decorative Distribution—Methods of Spacing—Characterization—Imaginary
Creatures—Unicorns, Dragons and Griffins.
| |
| Chapter V. | HERALDIC BIRDS AND OTHER FIGURES, ANIMATE AND INANIMATE | [89] |
| Eagles—Early Types—Plan of Distribution—Other Birds—Bird Monsters—
Human Figures—Inanimate Charges—Crosses of many Forms—Fleurs-de-lis—Examples
of Various Periods—The Rose—The Irish Harp—Surface Treatment—Diaper, its use in Sculpture,
Painting and Engraving—Diapers of Badges.
| |
| Chapter VI. | HELM, CREST AND MANTLING | [117] |
| The Helm—Its Structure—Ceremonial Use—Development as Armour—Helmets and their
Mechanism—Tourney Helms—The Crest—How Made and Fixed—Examples of Actual Crests—Influence
of Practical Conditions on their Pose—Difficulties in Design and How to Deal with Them—
The Pose of Helmets—The Torse—Mantling—Its Evolution from Simple Drapery—Its Treatment
in Relation to Shield and Crested Helm—Colour—Certain Restrictions.
| |
| Chapter VII. | ARMORIAL ACCESSORIES | [139] |
| Supporters—Derivation from Badges—Special Conditions of their Pose—
Non-Heraldic Supporters—Amorini—Angels—Symbolic Figures—The Eagle of the Holy Roman
Empire—And of Prussia—The Imperial Crown—Authorized Type for Present Use—The Coronet of the
Prince of Wales—Coronets of Peers—The Question of the Cap—Baronets’ Badges—Insignia
of Knighthood—The Garter—The Collar and George—Other Orders—Relation of Orders to the
Shield—Their Importance as Indications of Relative Rank—Typical Examples.
| |
| Chapter VIII. | METHODS AND MATERIALS | [164] |
| Illumination—Practical Directions—Methods of the Early Illuminators—Colour
Treatment—Heraldry in Enamel—Champlevé Enamel, Personal and Monumental—The Cloak Clasp of
Queen Eleanor—The Shield of William de Valence—Stall-plates of the Garter—“Limoges” Enamel—
Heraldic Enamel by Nardon Penicaud—Bassetaille—Plique-a-jour—Heraldry in Metal—Application
of Old Examples to Present Use—Bronze—Monumental Brasses—Cast Iron Firebacks—Pierced and
Chiselled Iron Lock-plates—Keys—Repoussé—Engraved Metal—Ceremonial Weapons and Implements—
Lead-work—Deposited Metal.
| |
| Chapter IX. | ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION | [204] |
| Badges at Blois—And at Hampton Court—Sculpture—Sgraffito—Gesso as a Material
for Heraldic Relief—Methods of Preparation—A Series of Shields in Painted Gesso—Poker Work—
Schemes of Decoration—Stained Glass—Technical Conditions—Colour Scheme—Working Drawings—
Pugin’s Designs for the Houses of Parliament—Powell’s Drawings—Armorial Windows at Ockwells
Manor—Painted Windows in Florence—The Swiss Painted Glass—Holbein.
| |
| Chapter X. | EMBROIDERED HERALDRY | [246] |
| Surcoats—Bardings—Embroidered Linen—Banners—Appliqué Work—Embroidered Badges—
The Toison d’or of Charles the Bold—Standards—The Proportions of Banners from Early Times—
The Direction of their Charges and the Reasons therefor—The Composition of the Union Jack—
Practical Explanation of its Construction—Painted Banners—How Prepared—Trumpet Banners—
Heraldic Lace.
| |
| Chapter XI. | SOME MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES | [267] |
| Heraldic Crowns—Chaplets—Roundels—Knots.
| |
| Chapter XII. | MARKS OF CADENCY | [286] |
| The Origin of the Label—Its Shape and Varieties—Ordinary Marks of Cadency—
Their Significance—How Displayed—Royal Cadency—The Distinguishing Marks of Cadency of Present
Personages of the Blood Royal.
| |
| Index | | [293]
|
| Analytical Index to Illustrations | | [303] |
HERALDRY AS ART
CHAPTER I
Introductory
In dealing with heraldry from the artist’s point of view, as a decorative subject which offers interesting scope for technical effort, it will not be necessary to go overmuch into the question of its origin, nor to elaborate its history beyond what is needed to give such knowledge of its methods as may help the doing of present work or the intelligent appreciation of the old. Nevertheless, the archaeological aspect of the subject, the conditions and rules of its existence, must also be carefully studied in order to ensure the correctness of the statement that heraldry makes and of which heraldic art is the expression.
As for its origin, we may safely say that heraldry, in its essence, began when man first used natural forms to symbolize, and ascribe to himself, those qualities—strength, courage, cunning—which he had full cause to recognize in the beasts with whom he struggled for existence; when he reproduced, as well as he could, their ferocious aspect, to strike terror into his human enemies while satisfying his own warlike vanity, and so adopted them as badges or even as totems.
In Europe heraldry began to be systematized (as we know it) somewhere about the eleventh century, and it flourished exceedingly until about the middle of the sixteenth century, the period thus indicated being that of its greatest strength and beauty.