Heraldic Banners & Flags

A class handout on vexillology, the anatomy of standards, historical examples of war standards, designing your own war standards, basic silk painting skills, and how to make a flag pole.

by Mistress Dairine mor o' hUigin, OL

Includes links and informatio n about many appliqued textiles, including medieval Mamluk panels, heraldic and armorial appliques, Swedish intarsia, and furnishing s.

Applique, stitching pieces of colored cloth onto a background , provides a quick and easy way to make a big splash of color on banners, buntings, bardings and clothing -- making encampment s and tournament s truly spectacula r.

Banners, Standards, and Heaters, Oh My!

Medieval examples of banners, seals, armory in manuscript s, architectu ral features, stained glass, tiles, effigies, brasses, and coinage featuring heraldry.

The website of the College of Heralds of the Kingdom of Atlantia.

In period, painted cloth was used for temporary displays, such as banners, city flags and decoration s for procession s. Painting banners is one of the quickest and easiest ways to dress up a hall or event site. Here I'll give you some tips and hints that I've learned over the past few years.

Notes regarding late 15th century European "banners," including types and period means of ornamentation.

One of the most impressive sights at events, whether indoors or out, is the banners, shields, flags, pennants, and other forms of heraldic display. It's how we know which of our monarchs is present at an event, who is camping at the site on the corner, and what fighter is currently winning his bout. So you've just gotten your device passed, and you want to display it. What next? First, realize that the shield or "heate r" shape that you drew it on for submission is not the only form it can take. In fact, the options are wide and varied.

A photo tutorial on creating silk painted banners.

Heraldry as a system has been copiously written about in a series of works extending from the 15th century until now and the subject has therefore been well examined from the scientific point of view. From its artistic side, on the other hand, it appears not to have attracted that amount of attention which the interesting and decorative character of the subject might have been expected to secure. Except for short incidental references in general works on heraldry and in papers read to certain learned and artistic societies, its decorative aspect has been treated as of comparatively minor importance. Many of those who have desired to practise the art have had to approach it anew by independent study and to re-discover by patient research the examples of good work on which to base their own an excellent method but susceptible of simplification.

You've gone to all the trouble of researching an early period persona and designing and early period device and now you're going to display it on a heater-shaped banner like everybody else, right? Here are some ideas for alternate banner types so you can stand out in a crowd.

A collection of notes on articles which discuss extant heraldic banners, as well as links to webpages with graphics of such.

How to decorate a modern-loo king space for an SCA event, including the use of banners, table settings, and hiding modern items.

The notes and methods employed to create some heraldic bed hangings to enhance the aesthetics and functional ity of my medieval camping bed.

A heraldic banner made for display on the field, using paint and appliqué.

In order to create a ceremonial atmosphere at baronial and kingdom court events, we have fashioned personal standards.

Explains the equipment and procedure for painting a silk banner.

Flags and banners. Period and SCA construction.