http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Laredo_Coat_of_Arms.gif
arrrrgh! Make it stop! Make it stop!
Where do we even begin?
And here I thought Los Angeles had the worst coat of arms ... just goes to show you that when you think things are bad, there’s always something, somewhere worse.
gselvester;74189 wrote:
Where do we even begin?
Evidently not on the other side of the river… something in the water, do you think?
Arms of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Escudo_de_nuevo_Laredo_MX.PNG
gselvester;74189 wrote:
http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Laredo_Coat_of_Arms.gif
Truly hideous. An example of trying to cram too much in, as well as a compound coat.
The dexter half reminds me of the former Georgia flag which included miniature versions of several other flags. I believe that Laredo claims to have been under seven flags (cool name for an amusement park). Some quick research makes me think the flags displayed are: Spain, France?, Mexico, United States, Republic of the Rio Grande (apparently there is uncertainty whether the lower fly color should be green or black), Texas and the Confederate States.
Makes you wonder if they are paying some consultant to come up with arms for them, trying to appease many political point of views, or the coffee person in the mayer’s office said one day, "wow, boss, wouldn’t it be just so cool to have a coat of arms?"
Because, well, how could anyone think these look good?
Whether our Texan members would like to take it up as a project, it must be possible to improve on these. Here are some thoughts
The flags seem most suitable for use as a crest in a form similar to a trophy or panache with the flag of the USA central. If that were done then then the shield could be easily improved whilst keeping the same symbolism.
The realistic depictions of the bridge and cathedral could be dealt with by suggesting a reversion to the old bridge which was a box girder construction that could be represented by a fess fretty, the dexter side couped in bend sinister and the sinister side couped in bend. The cathedral could be replaced with the figure of St Augustine holding in one hand a heart and in the other the cathedral.
Thus, maybe
Or a fess fretty Sable, the dexter side couped in bend sinister and the sinister side couped in bend all surmounted by the figure of St Augustine in episcopal garb holding in his dexter hand a man’s heart and in his sinister hand a representation of St Agustin’s cathedral Proper
References to gateways to Mexico and 1772 can be relegated to a motto scroll.
James Dempster;74220 wrote:
...it must be possible to improve on these…
The understatement of the decade
My limited experience and knowledge of government makes me think that it will be very difficult to get the city council to change their logo because (a) it was tough enough to get everyone to agree on this thing, they won’t want to go through it again and (b) they’ve already printed letterheads, business cards, made flags, stone carvings, etc. and don’t want to throw those out and spend another large sum of money on this.
Unless, of course, Laredo got this logo a while ago (not familiar with the history) and the redesign can be presented as a rebranding campaign to attract tourism/business/etc.
Compared to Laredo, Nuevo Laredo is a paragon of clarity.
I would not change a thing about the glorious arms of Laredo.
Some such breathtaking compositions should be preserved as object lessons for all would-be designers of government arms.
This surely deserves special recognition from our society.
Dohrman Byers;74268 wrote:
This surely deserves special recognition from our society.
A heraldic design anti-award?
Yes, this is definately a candidate for the worst heraldic-style logo award.
Take care,
Jay Bohn;74279 wrote:
A heraldic design anti-award?
better an anti-heraldic design award, or a heraldic anti-desgn award. It’s barely heraldic and barely designed - it’s kind of a kluge on a shield.
Jay Bohn;74279 wrote:
A heraldic design anti-award?
Why not?
We could have a prestigious Heraldic equivalent to the Darwin or the Ignobel awards! :rolleyes:
Or could that be seen as encouraging mediocrity?
Step back and reflect, folks.
We discussed this some years ago and decided that giving awards for good heraldry would do a lot more good than excoriating bad heraldry. People tend to get attached to their local symbols, good or bad, and a bunch of self-appointed out-of-town smart alecks making fun of them is not a high probability route to progress.
So we don’t get to play "Carpet-Bag Pursuivant"? Awww geez…
I would have proposed a very Biblical "Go forth & sin no more" award.
But Joe is right…we’d be (or be seen, anyway) as no better than the self-appointed Heraldry Police at yer local Scottish Games.
Hardly the first coat of arms to make use of flags or town scenes.
Yes, this one offends a bit more because of the sheer number of
things jammed into it, but it is the expected result of generations
of fore bearers just as inept.
Suggestions of improvement would probably be more constructive
than tongue in cheek compliments. Perhaps a design based on
the city’s flag.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0Mu2A5G_e-k/SCpWKOtBiHI/AAAAAAAAAE8/aqZTcCw0b1I/s320/RioGrandeFlag.png
Laredo was located in the province of Nuevo Santander in
Nueva EspaƱa. Both the Laredo and Santander names were taken
from towns located in Spain.
The arms of Laredo, Spain.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/EscudoLaredo.jpg/100px-EscudoLaredo.jpg
The arms of Santander, Spain.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/City_of_Santander,_Spain_Coat_of_arms_(Oficial_version).png/150px-City_of_Santander,_Spain_Coat_of_arms_(Oficial_version).png