In heraldry, or (/ɔːʁ/; French for "gold") is the tincture of gold and, together with argent (silver), belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals", or light colours. In engravings and line drawings, it is hatched using a field of evenly spaced dots. It is very frequently depicted as yellow, though gold leaf was used in many illuminated manuscripts and more extravagant rolls of arms.
The word "gold" is occasionally used in place of "or" in blazon, sometimes to prevent repetition of the word "or" in a blazon, or because this substitution was in fashion when the blazon was first written down, or when it is preferred by the officer of arms.[1] The use of "gold" for "or" (and "silver" for "argent") was a short-lived fashion amongst certain heraldic writers in the mid-20th century who attempted to "demystify" and popularise the subject of heraldry.
"Or" is sometimes spelled with a capital letter (e.g. "Gules, a fess Or") so as not to confuse it with the conjunction "or".[2] However, this incorrect heraldic usage is not met with in standard reference works such as Bernard Burke's General Armory, 1884 and Debrett'sPeerage. Fox-Davies advocated leaving all tinctures uncapitalized. A correctly stated blazon should eliminate any possible confusion between the tincture or and the conjunction "or" (which is rare in blazons in any case), certainly for the reader with a basic competence in heraldry.
The different tinctures are sometimes said to be associated with special meanings and virtues, and with certain elements and precious stones, although these associations have been mostly disregarded by serious heraldists.[3] Sources vary, but or is usually said to represent the following:
^See the table in Woodcock & Robinson (1988), p. 54, compiled from G. Leigh's Accedence of Armory (1562) and Sir John Ferne's The Glory of Generositie (1586).
Woodcock, Thomas and John Martin Robinson (1988). The Oxford Guide to Heraldry. Oxford: University Press. ISBN0-19-211658-4
October 14, 2023
heraldry, heraldry, ɔːʁ, french, gold, tincture, gold, together, with, argent, silver, belongs, class, light, tinctures, called, metals, light, colours, engravings, line, drawings, hatched, using, field, evenly, spaced, dots, very, frequently, depicted, yellow. In heraldry or ɔːʁ French for gold is the tincture of gold and together with argent silver belongs to the class of light tinctures called metals or light colours In engravings and line drawings it is hatched using a field of evenly spaced dots It is very frequently depicted as yellow though gold leaf was used in many illuminated manuscripts and more extravagant rolls of arms Or ClassMetalNon heraldic equivalentGold or yellowMonochromatic designationsHatching pattern Tricking abbr o or Poetic designationsHeavenly bodySunJewelTopazVirtueFaith obedience and gentilityThe word gold is occasionally used in place of or in blazon sometimes to prevent repetition of the word or in a blazon or because this substitution was in fashion when the blazon was first written down or when it is preferred by the officer of arms 1 The use of gold for or and silver for argent was a short lived fashion amongst certain heraldic writers in the mid 20th century who attempted to demystify and popularise the subject of heraldry Or is sometimes spelled with a capital letter e g Gules a fess Or so as not to confuse it with the conjunction or 2 However this incorrect heraldic usage is not met with in standard reference works such as Bernard Burke s General Armory 1884 and Debrett s Peerage Fox Davies advocated leaving all tinctures uncapitalized A correctly stated blazon should eliminate any possible confusion between the tincture or and the conjunction or which is rare in blazons in any case certainly for the reader with a basic competence in heraldry Contents 1 Poetic meanings 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingPoetic meanings EditThe different tinctures are sometimes said to be associated with special meanings and virtues and with certain elements and precious stones although these associations have been mostly disregarded by serious heraldists 3 Sources vary but or is usually said to represent the following Of jewels the topaz 4 Of heavenly bodies the Sun 5 Of metals gold Of virtues faith 6 or obedience and gentility 7 Gallery Edit nbsp Arms of Gervais family France nbsp Arms of Chemille France nbsp Coat of arms for the municipality of Aurskog Holand kommune Norway Or a lobster haurient sable nbsp Arms of Chantemerle les Bles France nbsp Arms of Puy de Dome FranceSee also Edit nbsp Look up or in Wiktionary the free dictionary Gold color Old GoldReferences Edit Woodcock Thomas Robinson John Martin 1988 The Oxford Guide to Heraldry Oxford Oxford University Press p 54 ISBN 0 19 211658 4 See Blazon Capitalization Woodcock Thomas Robinson John Martin 1988 The Oxford Guide to Heraldry Oxford Oxford University Press p 53 ISBN 0 19 211658 4 Elvin Charles Norton 1889 A Dictionary of Heraldry London Kent p 124 Elvin 1889 p 117 See the table in Woodcock amp Robinson 1988 p 54 compiled from G Leigh s Accedence of Armory 1562 and Sir John Ferne s The Glory of Generositie 1586 Woodcock amp Robinson 1988 p 54 attributed to Johannes de Bado Aureo Further reading EditWoodcock Thomas and John Martin Robinson 1988 The Oxford Guide to Heraldry Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 211658 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Or heraldry amp oldid 1153042799, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
