Coats of arms – then and now

Heraldic coats of arms have been a visible sign of origin, rank and identity for centuries. Originally they helped to recognise knights and nobles in armour – today more and more people are interested in their roots and would like to bear their own family coat of arms or a personal civic coat of arms.

This enthusiasm for heraldry creates work for genealogists, heraldists, artists and craftspeople. In my workshop in Wrestedt, hand-carved coats of arms made of wood are created – from the first design to the finished piece painted in heraldic colours.

This photo shows the individual stages – from the 1:1 drawing to the finished, carved and painted noble or alliance coat of arms. You can find an extensive photo documentation here:
Bookflip – Wappen v. Emme .

An overview of my work – family, noble, student fraternity and municipal coats of arms – can be found on my overview page:
Coats of Arms – Overview (Gerlach) .

How do you get your own coat of arms?

In practice, there are three typical ways:

• 1. Birth into a noble family:
  The historic noble coat of arms is passed down through generations.
• 2. Granting (historically):
  In earlier times, coats of arms could be granted for special merit (e.g. by rulers or sovereign houses).
• 3. Creating a new civic family coat of arms:
  Common today: a heraldist designs a new family coat of arms that fits the family and follows heraldic rules.

If required, I work with experienced heraldists. A new design can be registered in a coat-of-arms register, for example at the Münchner Wappen-Herold . Registration is subject to fees, but it offers the bearer more security against misuse.

What types of coats of arms exist?

Over time, different types of coats of arms have developed. In my workshop I create, among others:

• Noble coats of arms (ancestral or alliance arms)
• Family coats of arms / civic coats of arms
• Student fraternity / corps coats of arms
• State, regional, city and municipal coats of arms
• Company arms and logos in a heraldic style

Examples can be found here:

Wall of Fame – Bookflip and City arms – photo documentation .

From design to the full-scale 1:1 working drawing

Everything starts with the design – either an existing official reference (e.g. from a register) or a new design based on the client’s wishes. From this I produce a full-scale 1:1 working drawing, which is then transferred to the wooden panel.

At this stage I already define:

• Size and proportions of the coat of arms
• Position of shield, helmet, crest and mantling
• Relief depth and overlaps (highs, lows, layers)

Wood preparation – laminated base panel

For a larger coat of arms (e.g. about 65 cm height) I use a base panel of about 4.5 cm thickness. This panel is built from several wooden blocks that are interlocked and glued.

The interlocking glue-up helps neutralise the natural tensions of the wood:

• The panel remains stable and is less likely to warp.
• Possible cracks usually remain within a single block.
• Even large coats of arms stay straight for years.

After the base panel is ready, I transfer the 1:1 drawing onto the wood and cut out the outline. Thicker sections (helmet, shield, crest) are often built up by gluing additional wood on top to gain more relief height.

I have documented these steps in a small slide show:

Dia documentation – Heidelberg coat of arms

Hand carving – 100% craftsmanship

Now the true carving begins: the coat of arms is carved entirely by hand, without CNC machines.

Rough shaping

First comes the rough shaping: highs and lows, the positioning of helmet, crest, mantling and shield are modelled in relief. Here I define the overall harmony and perspective.

Working the back

At the same time I work on the back. To make the piece look visually lighter on the wall, material is removed in areas behind the highest points on the front.

Fine carving

In the fine carving stage all details are created: edges, curves, veins, folds of the mantling, feathers, fur structures and more. Every cut influences the expression and the final impact.

Painting in heraldic colours

After carving, the coat of arms is painted according to heraldic rules: metals (gold, silver), colours (red, blue, black, green, purple) and, if required, furs.

Step by step, base colours are applied, shadows and highlights are worked out and the relief becomes clearly visible. On request, parts can be finished with gold leaf or silver leaf or lightly patinated to create a more historic character.

Registration and delivery

For newly designed family coats of arms, a registration in a coat-of-arms register can be useful. Together with a heraldist, the design is checked, blazoned and recorded.

The finished coat of arms leaves my workshop ready for mounting, securely packed for shipment by parcel service or freight carrier. You receive a unique, durable piece that can accompany a family for generations.

Commission a hand-carved coat of arms?

If you are thinking about commissioning a hand-carved wooden family coat of arms, or if you have questions about turning an existing design into a carved piece, simply send me an email – ideally with a drawing, photo or short description.

General information about types of coats of arms, pricing and the process can also be found on Coat of arms info and in the heraldry glossary.

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Enquiry to:

Master woodcarver Manfred Gerlach

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