Heraldic Designs (The Treasury of Decorative Art)

The story of heraldry is an intriguing one - with a wealth of history behind the rules that are still enforced today. The introduction to this selection of heraldic designs explains how the art of communicating through heraldry evolved, as well as describing basic heraldic jargon and practice. Originally, heraldry had a practical purpose - coats of arms were decorated so that heralds delivering messages could identify who was who in battle. Outside the battlefield, heraldry has subsequently had a much wider application, whether proclaiming the owner's presence or marking his property. This book includes a wide range of heraldic designs that will appeal to all those who want to explore this exciting symbolic art form, as well as to historians, illustrators, and designers.