Araldica
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Relief block bearing the coat of arms of Cholula, Mexico. Stone with traces of stucco. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Source
Description
Heraldic stonework represents coats of arms, crests and related devices in relief, inlay or other carved forms. A crest is one element of an achievement of arms. The source design determines the arrangement, with apparently small changes capable of altering what is represented.
History
European coats of arms developed in the twelfth century as identifying devices. Their use extended from shields and tournaments to civic, institutional and architectural settings, where they became subjects for carving and ornament.
Commissioning
Authoritative artwork should be agreed before the design is adapted to stone. The brief should cover relief or inlay, colour, inscriptions, scale and viewing distance. The finished arrangement needs to preserve the identity and legibility of the device.