Sable (heraldry): Difference between revisions

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Restored Poetic meanings section to text, removed by User:Giltsbeach in contravention of purpose of an infobox as noted on talk. Removed ref from infobox. Gallery to bottom so that Poland and Lithuania are not separated from rest of section. Coat of arms -> consistent Arms in captions. This edit intended toimprove the article is not an endorsement of the WMF.
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|gemstone = [[Diamond]]
|gemstone = [[Diamond]]
|planet = [[Saturn]]
|planet = [[Saturn]]
|flower = [[Nightshade]]
|flower = [[Nightshade]]<ref name="digicoll.library.wisc.edu">{{Cyclopaedia 1728|title=Dwal|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&entity=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01.p0623&id=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01&isize=M&q1=dwal|page=257}}</ref>
}}
}}
In [[heraldry]], '''sable''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|eɪ|b|əl}}) is the [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] [[black]], and belongs to the class of dark tinctures, called "colours". In [[engraving]]s and line drawings, it is sometimes depicted as a region of crossed horizontal and vertical lines, or else marked with ''sa.'' as an abbreviation.
In [[heraldry]], '''sable''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|eɪ|b|əl}}) is the [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] [[black]], and belongs to the class of dark tinctures, called "colours". In [[engraving]]s and line drawings, it is sometimes depicted as a region of crossed horizontal and vertical lines, or else marked with ''sa.'' as an abbreviation.
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==Etymology==
==Etymology==
Sable can be traced back to Middle English, Anglo-French, and ultimately to the Middle Low German ''sabel'', which refers to a species of [[marten]] known as a [[sable]] and its fur. This is related to the Middle High German ''zobel'', which is of Slav origin and akin to the Russian ''sobol''', which likewise refers to the sable or its fur. Since at least the 14th century, sable has been used as a synonym for the colour black.<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sable</ref>
Sable can be traced back to Middle English, Anglo-French, and ultimately to the Middle Low German ''sabel'', which refers to a species of [[marten]] known as a [[sable]] and its fur. This is related to the Middle High German ''zobel'', which is of Slav origin and akin to the Russian ''sobol''', which likewise refers to the sable or its fur. Since at least the 14th century, sable has been used as a synonym for the colour black.<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sable</ref>

==Poetic meanings==
Centuries ago, arms were often described poetically and the tinctures were connected to different gemstones, flowers and heavenly bodies. Sable usually represented the following:
* Of jewels, the [[diamond]]<ref name="cyclopaedia_1728_sable">{{Cyclopaedia 1728|title=Sable|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&entity=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia02.p0657&id=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia02&isize=M|page=257}}</ref>
* Of heavenly bodies, [[Saturn]]<ref name="cyclopaedia_1728_sable"/>
* Of flowers, the herb [[nightshade]], in these circumstances also called dwal<ref name="digicoll.library.wisc.edu">{{Cyclopaedia 1728|title=Dwal|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&entity=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01.p0623&id=HistSciTech.Cyclopaedia01&isize=M&q1=dwal|page=257}}</ref>


==Sable in Central Europe==
==Sable in Central Europe==
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| publisher= Babits Kiadó
| publisher= Babits Kiadó
| isbn=963-9015-97-0 }}</ref>{{efn| In the original Hungarian: {{lang|hu|"álló, csücskös talpú tárcsapajzs kék mezejében, lebegő arany saslábon fekete sasszárny, jobbról ezüst félholdtól, balról nyolcágú arany csillagtól kísérve."}}}} Another early Hungarian example was granted in 1628 to the family Karomi Bornemisza: ''Per fess gules, an eagle displayed sable crowned Or, and azure, a buffalo's head cabossed sable maintaining in its mouth a fish (argent?)''.<ref name="straub" />{{efn| In the original Hungarian: {{lang|hu|"álló, tojásdad pajzs vágott, felső vörös mezejében jobbra fordult fejű, vágásvonalon álló, koronás fekete sas, az alsó kék mezőben fekete bölényfej, szájában hallall."}}}}
| isbn=963-9015-97-0 }}</ref>{{efn| In the original Hungarian: {{lang|hu|"álló, csücskös talpú tárcsapajzs kék mezejében, lebegő arany saslábon fekete sasszárny, jobbról ezüst félholdtól, balról nyolcágú arany csillagtól kísérve."}}}} Another early Hungarian example was granted in 1628 to the family Karomi Bornemisza: ''Per fess gules, an eagle displayed sable crowned Or, and azure, a buffalo's head cabossed sable maintaining in its mouth a fish (argent?)''.<ref name="straub" />{{efn| In the original Hungarian: {{lang|hu|"álló, tojásdad pajzs vágott, felső vörös mezejében jobbra fordult fejű, vágásvonalon álló, koronás fekete sas, az alsó kék mezőben fekete bölényfej, szájában hallall."}}}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Arms of Dalzell, Earl of Carnwath.svg|Arms of [[Dalziel]] family of Scotland
File:Arms of the Foljambe family of Walton.png|Arms of the Foljambe family of Walton, Osberton and Aldwark.
File:Blason fam nl van Borssele de Zuylen 1.svg|Coat of arms of Frank II van Borselen.
File:DEU Hueckelhoven COA.svg|Coat of arms of [[Hückelhoven]], Germany.
File:Blason fam fr Boissy d'Anglas.svg|Coat of arms of [[François-Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas]].
File:Blazon of the Castelyn family of London.png|Blazon of the Castelyn family of London.
File:Coat of arms of Albania.svg|The arms of Albania.
File:Coat of arms of Samogitia.svg|The historical coat of arms of [[Samogitia]]
</gallery>



Polish examples abound as early as the fifteenth century. Józef Szymański<ref>{{cite book
Polish examples abound as early as the fifteenth century. Józef Szymański<ref>{{cite book
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| publisher= Versus Aureus
| publisher= Versus Aureus
| isbn=9955-601-73-6 }}</ref> so there is a certain similarity of style. Among these coats are those of [[Eldership of Samogitia|Great Žemaitija]]: "a black bear with an argent chain on its neck on a field gules".
| isbn=9955-601-73-6 }}</ref> so there is a certain similarity of style. Among these coats are those of [[Eldership of Samogitia|Great Žemaitija]]: "a black bear with an argent chain on its neck on a field gules".

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Arms of Dalzell, Earl of Carnwath.svg|Arms of [[Dalziel]] family of Scotland
File:Arms of the Foljambe family of Walton.png|Arms of the Foljambe family of Walton, Osberton and Aldwark.
File:Blason fam nl van Borssele de Zuylen 1.svg|Arms of Frank II van Borselen.
File:DEU Hueckelhoven COA.svg|Aarms of [[Hückelhoven]], Germany.
File:Blason fam fr Boissy d'Anglas.svg|Arms of [[François-Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas]].
File:Blazon of the Castelyn family of London.png|Blazon of the Castelyn family of London.
File:Coat of arms of Albania.svg|Arms of Albania.
File:Coat of arms of Samogitia.svg|Historical arms of [[Samogitia]]
</gallery>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 20:48, 5 April 2023

Sable
 
ClassColour
Non-heraldic equivalentBlack
Monochromatic designations
Hatching pattern 
Tricking abbr.s., sa.
Poetic designations
Heavenly bodySaturn
JewelDiamond
FlowerNightshade

In heraldry, sable (/ˈsbəl/) is the tincture black, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures, called "colours". In engravings and line drawings, it is sometimes depicted as a region of crossed horizontal and vertical lines, or else marked with sa. as an abbreviation.

Etymology

Sable can be traced back to Middle English, Anglo-French, and ultimately to the Middle Low German sabel, which refers to a species of marten known as a sable and its fur. This is related to the Middle High German zobel, which is of Slav origin and akin to the Russian sobol', which likewise refers to the sable or its fur. Since at least the 14th century, sable has been used as a synonym for the colour black.[1]

Poetic meanings

Centuries ago, arms were often described poetically and the tinctures were connected to different gemstones, flowers and heavenly bodies. Sable usually represented the following:

  • Of flowers, the herb nightshade, in these circumstances also called dwal[3]

Sable in Central Europe

Sable is considered a colour in British and French heraldry, and contrasts with lighter metals, argent and Or. However, in the heraldry of Germany, Poland and other parts of Central Europe, sable is not infrequently placed on colour fields. As a result, a sable cross may appear on a red shield, or a sable bird may appear on a blue or a red field, as in the arms of Albania.

In Hungary, for example, one can find examples of sable on gules and azure fields as early as the sixteenth century in the arms of the family Kanizsai (granted in 1519): Azure, an eagle's wing sable taloned Or between a decrescent argent and a sun Or.[4][a] Another early Hungarian example was granted in 1628 to the family Karomi Bornemisza: Per fess gules, an eagle displayed sable crowned Or, and azure, a buffalo's head cabossed sable maintaining in its mouth a fish (argent?).[4][b]

Polish examples abound as early as the fifteenth century. Józef Szymański[5] includes no fewer than seven examples of sable primary charges on either gules or azure fields out of the approximately 200 shields from this period whose blazons are known. These include the arms of Corvin, "Azure, a raven sable with a circlet or in its beak"; Kownaty, "Gules, a trumpet sable with a cord or, a Passion cross of the same issuing from its opening"; and Słońce, "Gules, a sphere radiant sable, its centre argent". In addition to the seven major examples, he describes occasional variants for the arms of some rody which also use sable charges on azure or gules fields.

Sable charges on gules fields also appear in the armory used in Lithuania. This is not surprising, since a significant fraction of Lithuania's personal coats of arms are of Polish origin,[6] so there is a certain similarity of style. Among these coats are those of Great Žemaitija: "a black bear with an argent chain on its neck on a field gules".

Gallery

References

  1. ^ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sable
  2. ^ a b Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "Sable". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. p. 257.
  3. ^ Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "Dwal". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. p. 257.
  4. ^ a b Nyulászi-Straub, Éva (1999). Öt évszázad címerei (Wappen aus fünf Jahrhunderten). Szekszárd: Babits Kiadó. ISBN 963-9015-97-0.
  5. ^ Szymański, Józef (1993). Herbarz: Średniowiecznego Rycerstwa Polskiego. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN. ISBN 83-01-09797-3.
  6. ^ Rimša, Edmundas (2005). Heraldry: past to present. Vilnius: Versus Aureus. ISBN 9955-601-73-6.

Notes

  1. ^ In the original Hungarian: "álló, csücskös talpú tárcsapajzs kék mezejében, lebegő arany saslábon fekete sasszárny, jobbról ezüst félholdtól, balról nyolcágú arany csillagtól kísérve."
  2. ^ In the original Hungarian: "álló, tojásdad pajzs vágott, felső vörös mezejében jobbra fordult fejű, vágásvonalon álló, koronás fekete sas, az alsó kék mezőben fekete bölényfej, szájában hallall."

External links

The dictionary definition of sable at Wiktionary