Heraldic coats of arms – yesterday and today

Heraldic coats of arms have been visible signs of origin, rank and identity for many centuries. In earlier times they helped to recognise knights and nobles in full armour on the battlefield. Today more and more families are interested in their roots and wish to use their own family coat of arms or civic coat of arms.

This interest in heraldry creates work for genealogists, heraldists, artists and craftsmen. In my workshop in Wrestedt I carve heraldic coats of arms in wood by hand – from the first sketch to the fully painted and, if desired, gilded coat of arms.

The large photo above shows the main stages – from the 1:1 drawing to the finished, carved and coloured noble or alliance coat of arms. A detailed picture documentation can be found here:
Bookflip – Emme coat of arms.

An overview of my previous work – family coats of arms, noble coats of arms, fraternity and city coats of arms – can be found on my coats-of-arms overview page:
Coats of arms overview – Bildhauerei Gerlach.

How do you obtain your own coat of arms?

In practice there are three typical ways to a coat of arms:

• 1. Birth into a noble family:
  The historic noble coat of arms is passed on from generation to generation.
• 2. Granting of arms:
  In former times coats of arms could be granted for special merits (for example by sovereigns or princely houses).
• 3. Creation of a new family coat of arms:
  Very common today: a heraldist designs a new family coat of arms that suits the family and follows the rules of heraldry.

On request I cooperate with experienced heraldists. A new coat of arms can then be registered in an official coat of arms roll, for example at the Münchner Wappen-Herold. Such a registration is subject to a fee but offers additional security against misuse.

Types of coats of arms I carve

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

• Noble coats of arms with single or alliance shields
• Family and civic coats of arms
• Fraternity and corps coats of arms for student associations
• State, regional, city and municipal coats of arms
• Company coats of arms and logos in a heraldic style

A selection of finished works can be seen here:

Wall of Fame – picture show and City coats of arms – documentation .

From design to full-scale working drawing

Everything starts with the design – either an existing coat-of-arms document (for example from a coat of arms roll) or a new draft based on the customer’s wishes. From this I create a 1:1 working drawing, which is later transferred to the wooden panel.

In this phase I already determine:

• Size and proportions of the coat of arms
• Position of shield, helmet, crest and mantling
• Depth levels, overlaps and the plastic effect

Wood preparation – tooth-jointed panel

For larger coats of arms (for example around 65 cm high) I use a base panel of approx. 4.5 cm thickness. This panel consists of several tooth-jointed wooden bars which are glued together.

The bars receive a special toothed profile and are glued in a zigzag pattern. This greatly reduces natural tensions in the wood:

• The panel remains dimensionally stable and hardly warps.
• Any cracks usually remain within one single bar.
• Even large coats of arms remain straight over many years.

After the panel has been prepared, I transfer the full-scale drawing to the wood and saw out the outline of the coat of arms. Thicker areas (helmet, shield, crest) are built up with additional glued pieces in order to gain more relief height.

These steps can be seen in a small slide show:

Slide show – Heidelberg coat of arms

Carving – everything by hand

Now the real woodcarving begins: the coat of arms is carved completely by hand, without CNC machines.

Rough carving

First I work out the rough shapes: heights and depths, the position of helmet, crest, mantling and shield are carved in three dimensions. At this stage the overall harmony and perspective of the coat of arms are defined.

Back side

At the same time I also work on the back of the piece. To make a thick coat of arms appear visually lighter on the wall, I remove material on the back in those areas that form the highest points on the front.

Fine carving

In the fine-carving phase all details are added: edges, folds, veins of leaves, feather and fur structures, ornaments and lettering. Here every cut decides on the final expression of the work – experience and a steady hand are essential.

Heraldic colours and gilding

After carving, the surface is carefully smoothed and prepared for painting. The colouring follows the rules of heraldry: metals (gold, silver), colours (gules/red, azure/blue, sable/black, vert/green, purpure) and any furs.

Step by step I build up colour layers, shadows and highlights until the coat of arms appears fully three-dimensional. On request I finish selected parts with gold leaf or silver leaf and, if desired, a light patina to give the piece a historic character.

Installation and delivery

The finished coat of arms leaves my workshop ready for mounting and is securely packed for transport by parcel service or carrier. The result is a unique piece that can accompany a family, institution or fraternity for generations.

Would you like to have your own coat of arms carved?

If you are thinking about having a family coat of arms carved in wood or if you would like to realise an existing design as a wooden relief, simply send me an e-mail – ideally with a drawing, photo or short description.

General information on types of coats of arms, prices and working process can also be found on
Coat of arms information and in the Heraldry glossary.

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Enquiry to:

Master woodcarver Manfred Gerlach

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