Ship (heraldry)

three golden three-masters
( Nordfriesland district , DE)

stylized: golden sailing ship
( Timmendorfer Strand , DE)

In heraldry, ship and boat referred to a coat of arms as a common figure that has very different forms of representation.

history

The entry into heraldry derives from its early use as a means of transport. It is used in the coat of arms from the small rowing boat to the multi-masted sailing ship . All types of ships are strongly stylized. Often the shape shown in the coat of arms is no longer suitable for swimming.

Originally it is widespread in English heraldry and has gradually secured a place in the coats of arms of other countries. The ship was and is widespread in the coats of arms of English sea towns, especially in the former British colonies. In modern heraldry, the ship is increasingly used from the side view to the perspective view.

Representation and blazon

In a good coat of arms is a sailing ship with billowing sails and flagged masts. Often three masts are shown. The boat, on the other hand, appears unmasted and simple.

Only parts of ships and boats appear in the coat of arms. So is the oar or a paddle, also crossed with a second, sometimes in the coat of arms. The chosen type of ship must be described. All heraldic colors are possible and the ship or boat does not always have to float in the water.

A blue shield base with a wave cut or a bar shown in the same way as a representation of water is often not found.

Heraldic figures are rarely shown in the boats and ships, a common figure like a cross is more common. On sailing ships, the sails or mast pennants are adorned with various figures that also have to be emblazoned.

A special feature is Noah's ark . Here a ship is shown, often with a house on it. The dove with an olive branch in its beak turns the portfolio figure into an ark. All heraldic tints are possible.

Examples

Ships
( Lisbon , PT)
( Avilés , ES)
( Spiekeroog Island , DE)
( Paris , FR)
( Kaliningrad , RU)
Red cog ( Wismar , DE)
( Murmansk , RU)

special sails
with ermine fitted ( Nantes , FR)
Three-masted sailor ( Bunde am Dollart , DE)
( Wehlen , DE)
( Roßlau , DE)
( Flörsheim , DE)
stylized sailing ship ( Condé-Sainte-Libiaire , FR)

Boats
Boat in top view and rowing, ( Seddiner See , DE)
Dugout canoe ( Tiefgraben , AT)
two dugout canoes set to one , with black, diagonal fire stripes, rowed left ( Mondsee , AT)