Heraldry, "the profession, study, or art of devising, granting, and blazoning arms, tracing genealogies, and determining and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms."[1]
Heraldry first began during the High Middle Ages (1000 - 1300) and was originally developed for the purpose of the armory, which usually included a shield, helmet, and crest.[2] Of course throughout time armor gradually fell out of use, but fortunately, heraldic-art remains a respected art form today and has been described as "the handmaid of history."[3]
Before an artist or craftsman can render a Coat of Arms, it must already exist. In other words, the arms must have been designed and recorded by heralds.
Heraldic designs researched by the lay-artist are in many cases inaccurate and portrayed incorrectly. However, to the Heraldic Artist, the same design presents a formidable challenge, whilst they may enjoy considerable freedom within certain limits, the objects in the arms, crest, and supporters, as well as their colors and positions, may not be altered. Although, how each object is rendered provides a wide latitude of design to the artist.[2]
Thus, a Lion Rampant, Gules armed and langued, Azure, can also be fat, thin, hairy, bald, happy, angry, but it must be in the rampant position, colored red, and the tongue and claws of blue.
The traditional rendering of objects in heraldry is for the most part closely observed, regardless of the modern scientific knowledge. Thus a dolphin is rendered as a fish as it was up until the mid 20th century.
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