Crest (heraldry)

Crest (also crest, Cimir or Zimir ) is a plugged ornamental attachment for helmets that were worn by knights.

Operation and representation

Ornaments and jewels have been proven since the early 13th century and were probably originally of better detection of the knights in the fray. But originally the crest repeated the shield coat of arms ( were thus equal tinged ) then were added additional attributes that this supplemented or about anzeigten the rank.

In heraldry, they are used in particular to distinguish coat of arms with the same sign, in the later heraldry individual members, branches or a family residences: The crest is also oriented toward personal characteristics.

In the second half of the 14th century, the Zimire were imaginative and were often fictitious. They should be cut at the tournament in battle. This Helmzierden were made ​​of wood and wire frames, paper mache and natural materials such as fabrics and animal parts. They were on the helmet mounted above or cap -like drawn over, so they could sit on the heraldic helmet cover and the helmet crown or growing out of the ceiling.

It was mostly figurative depictions of people, plants, animals, wings, horns or objects. These pictorial elements are collectively referred to by the heraldic technical term congregation figure. Together with helmet and shield form crest. Only through the crest, a helmet crest was moderately or heraldic. Crest and helmet are assigned to the upper crest. Depending on the crest of the coat of arms helmet is normally facing the viewer or looking ahead ( heraldic right, so the left).

With a Coat of Arms Association, helmets are gathered on the combined shield in the post-medieval heraldry coat of arms in full. Are over a crest several helmets, the orientation of the helmet Grace on the direction of helmets should be. In two Gracing this be turned or turned away from each other. Three helmets decorated, the medium is supplied to the viewer rotates independently from the other to the front.

• Helmzierden and jewels

Helm with crown (replica )

Examples

Common Helmzierden are:

• Flight, open or closed, as the carrier of the coat of arms image
• Pillows, open or closed, as the carrier of the coat of arms image or document the actual crest
• Screen board as a projection of the plate contents
• Spring base ( spring quiver and spring cage ), with ostrich and peacock feathers
• Various headgear, such as crown, hat, miter ( bishop's cap ), bag stand, the latter also as a projection of the plate contents
• Flags
• Buffalo horns, tinged or hung
• Clothing of characters in the plate image
• Humans or animals coat of arms, as a figure, doll (commonly used for the hulls growing figures as an expression ), also heads
• Labels, repeat the sign image

Different helmet Grace

Badge of the Prince of Wales with three ostrich feathers in a simple crown and the motto " ICH DIEN " for the Prince of Wales

Thuringian or helmet Dime (1405-1411) of the mint in Freiberg with the Thuringian crest