Laurel (heraldry)

As a plant in heraldry, laurel belongs to the heraldic figures and to the gems . The model in nature is the real laurel .

It is considered a symbol of honor, fame and victory. Even if the use was known for a long time, it only found its way into heraldry since the Renaissance , the same applies to the olive branch or olive branch, or the palm branch. These branches are often used in heraldry to combine with laurel. In addition, oak and linden are to be expected. The use of laurel is versatile.

The use in the coat of arms or coat of arms field is possible in these variants:

whole plant ( laurel tree, stylized as a heraldic tree )

one or more sheets

one of the several branches

a wreath ( laurel wreath )

or around the shield

one branch each to the coats of arms
in combination a branch of laurel with another leafy branch
a wreath or wreath

In this usage, the branches below the base of the shield are quite often tied with a bow. It tries to show the colors of the coat of arms or the national color of the country (Italian coat of arms) in the loop. A light wrapping of several branches to form a bundle or bundle is also common.

The tinging of the laurel is green or gold, but silver is also common. The laurel is often difficult to recognize as such in the coat of arms. The description of the coat of arms should clarify here. Often in the description of garland or bundle is written and it means the branches surrounding the shield. This bad habit of adding branches outside the coat of arms is due to the Rococo , where the playful rocaille shield shape took on excesses.

The branches are occasionally animated with red-colored berries , although these do not occur naturally in such light colors.