Buffalo horns
Buffalo horns , also horns of plenty, tan horns , appear in heraldry predominantly in pairs, curved and mostly in the main colors of the shield in the coat of arms and as helmet gems . They then belong to the upper coat of arms .
Use and design
The horns are called buffalo horns because their essence is a hunting trophy, i.e. it comes from a wild bull , heraldically a buffalo .
In the course of the centuries the horns got bigger, bent twice and sawed off at the top, creating an opening at the top, which was mostly provided with a ring. In some cases, blowing or drinking horns (with mouthpieces) were placed on the crest like the buffalo horns (but these are usually provided with cord and fittings). These figures, called open horns , were later erroneously referred to as elephant teeth, elephant trunks or snout , as open horns of plenty or as trumpets due to their shape .
If a piece of bone is depicted from the base of the horns, according to the type of trophies, it is called buffalo horns (with grind) .
If the horns are shown in the coat of arms , they are a mean figure . Whether in the upper coat of arms or as a common figure, the buffalo horns can be changed with heraldic images and all heraldic colors ( tinctures ). The buffalo horns can also be equipped with flags, leaves, feathers, flowers and other accessories, which often appear in the main color of the shield or their natural colors.
Examples
in confused colors in the shield, and as a helmet ornament ( Hodyc PL)
pair of red and white horns, each with a color-changing comb on the outside ( Pranckh )
Front: helmet with crescent-shaped buffalo horns ( Rantzau DE)
Two buffalo horns in silver and black ( Nähermemmingen DE)
red buffalo horns with grind ( Sachsenheim DE)
crossed eels with buffalo horn ( Stemshorn DE)
Coat of arms of the Lords of Sachsenheim
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- Tomb of the minstrel Hermann von Sachsenheim , detail: buffalo horn coat of arms with grind, 1508, Stuttgart, collegiate church .
- Epitaph of Wilhelm von Janowitz and Anna von Sachsenheim, 1553, Tübingen, collegiate church . - Right at the corners: two buffalo horn coats of arms with grind and horns bent outwards or inwards.
- Altarpiece by Jörg von Sachsenheim , 1489, Stuttgart, Hospital Church . - Right: inclined buffalo horn coat of arms with grind and outwardly curved horns, above: helmet with inwardly curved horns.
See also
literature
- Gert Oswald : Lexicon of Heraldry. VEB Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1984 (also: Bibliographisches Institut, Mannheim / Vienna / Zurich 1985, ISBN 3-411-02149-7 ).
