The apre or après is an imaginary creature with a body that resembles a bull and the tail of a bear. Fruit of all kinds was considered to be evidence of God’s kindness and a symbol of the goodness of providence. The Fitzgerald crest commemorates this even with the image of an ape.Īpples signify liberality, felicity, peace and salvation. It is found as a charge on shields and crests, and also as a supported in coats of arms.Ī story exists that centuries ago, Thomas, the infant son of Maurice Fitzgerald, was snatched from his cradle by a tame ape, carried to the edge of the battlements at the top of the castle and safely retuned to his cradle. The ape is not a very common symbol in heraldry but when it is found it is usually ‘collared and chained’, with the collar encircling its waist rather than its neck. It is thought to have indicated a moral obligation on the part of the bearer to conquer all sins, and been a reminder of one’s morals, ethics and religion. In heraldry, the ape is a symbol of sin, malice, craftiness and lust. The symbol of the anvil borne on a shield or coat of arms indicates that the first bearer was a smith. Towns where these merchants had had a long-standing trade also often adopted eastern crowns into their arms. It is given to British subjects who have distinguished themselves in service in the East and it is also often born by merchants, the association being that they are like the magi. The eastern or antique crown has a gold rim with eight sharp, triangular rays, only five of which are seen. The word crown, blazoned without any additional details, usually implies a ducal coronet without a cap. It is a visible sign of success, thus the term ‘crowning achievement’, and its significance as the decoration of the ultimate level of rank and power, makes bearing the crown a great honour. Crowns are also symbols of God, as he is considered by some to be the ‘King of all’. The crown is an emblem of victory, sovereignty, and empire. That figure is now referred to as a heraldic antelope, as opposed to the later version, which has a more natural aspect. The antelope has also been used occasionally as an emblem of purity and fleetness.Įarly representations of the antelope did not look much like the real animal, as they were likely drawn from descriptions. Thus the antelope signifies harmony, polity and peace. It represents someone who is skilful at music and a lover of harmony, someone with a keen mind for politics and the ability to foresee times and opportunities well, and lastly, a person who is unwilling to assail his enemies rashly, who would prefer to stand his ground than risk harming another wrongfully. The antelope which is also referred to as an ibex or a springbok has three main symbolic meanings in heraldry. The ant may also be referred to as an emmet. The ant is not a very common symbol in heraldry, but when depicted the ant is usually accompanied by a drawing of an anthill. The symbol of the ant traditionally signified one who was a strong labourer, wise and provident in all his affairs. On English arms, an annulet was a mark of cadency signifying the fifth son. In some circles an annulet represented riches. The annulet may have been borne to indicate that the bearer had the superior qualities of a knight. The Romans are said to have worn a ring as a sign of knighthood and rings are still used at some coronations and in the institution of knighthood. As a closed circle, it is symbolic of continuity and wholeness. Maritime devices are found less often on the continent where many countries are essentially landlocked, but Cosmo de Medici, the Duke of Etruria is an example of a Spanish noble who bore two anchors on his shield. It was even a device that was once born by King Richard I. It is a common figure in the English armour, which is not surprising given that Britain is an island. It is also an appropriate device for the coat of arms of a family with a seafaring tradition. The anchor is the emblem of salvation and hope. It is extremely uncommon in heraldry.Īn amphiptere is a winged serpent found very rarely in heraldry, though it does exist as a supporter and as a charge on a shield occasionally.Īn amphisboena is a winged serpent with two legs and a head at both ends of its body however the drawing of this creature does not strictly follow this description. The acorn is usually vert (green) but it can also be other colours.Īn allocamelus is a creature with the head of a donkey joined to the body of a camel. It can be found slipped and leaved the acorn-sprig is not uncommon as a crest and acorn-cups are represented alone. The sign of the acorn in heraldry has traditionally been used to indicate independence in its bearer.
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