Shield of arms on chimney

 
John Crowley
 
Avatar
 
 
John Crowley
Total Posts:  4
Joined  11-04-2009
 
 
 
11 June 2011 20:34
 

I have seen an architectural drawing somewhere showing a shield of arms on the exterior of a chimney. I am thinking about this for my own place. Anyone have any thoughts as to materials, suitability, etc.?

 
Brian
 
Avatar
 
 
Brian
Total Posts:  145
Joined  07-12-2004
 
 
 
11 June 2011 21:28
 

John Crowley;84703 wrote:

I have seen an architectural drawing somewhere showing a shield of arms on the exterior of a chimney. I am thinking about this for my own place. Anyone have any thoughts as to materials, suitability, etc.?


Wrought iron is nice for a line drawing aspect.  Sturdy and can be created by a metal sculpture student from your local university.  Stained glass within a frame may work.

 

If they were a simple design I suppose a mold could be made and filled with cement and painted or not and hung.

 
Aquilo
 
Avatar
 
 
Aquilo
Total Posts:  278
Joined  02-10-2010
 
 
 
29 September 2011 17:59
 

John Crowley;84703 wrote:

I have seen an architectural drawing somewhere showing a shield of arms on the exterior of a chimney. I am thinking about this for my own place. Anyone have any thoughts as to materials, suitability, etc.?

Only today I discovered your post ,but if you are still interested I can advise.

But first you would have to tell me or even better show me a picture of an interior ,just to have a general idea of your house .It should be all coordinated so the choice of material ,style and technique will result in final effect.

 
Caledonian
 
Avatar
 
 
Caledonian
Total Posts:  153
Joined  13-09-2011
 
 
 
29 September 2011 19:13
 

John Crowley;84703 wrote:

I have seen an architectural drawing somewhere showing a shield of arms on the exterior of a chimney. I am thinking about this for my own place. Anyone have any thoughts as to materials, suitability, etc.?


Limestone or sandstone are traditional building materials for these types of accent carvings when embedded into a wall of brick or masonry construction:

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2073085217_834f2bf624.jpg

 

This type of architectural element does require a skilled stonecutter in order to create it however, and sadly these are in short supply. As an alternative, you might check with a local monument company, the type who do cemetery monuments, and see if they can cut the design you want in on a slab of granite or stone in the appropriate thickness.

 
Aquilo
 
Avatar
 
 
Aquilo
Total Posts:  278
Joined  02-10-2010
 
 
 
30 September 2011 05:21
 

Brian;84708 wrote:

Wrought iron is nice for a line drawing aspect.  Sturdy and can be created by a metal sculpture student from your local university.  Stained glass within a frame may work.

If they were a simple design I suppose a mold could be made and filled with cement and painted or not and hung.


Certain materials are destined to be used within tradition they are normally used.If you think that a line drawing can be transformed into a wrought iron crate ,entrance gate or so it’s fine.Stained glass within a frame will be the best if exposed to the light ,so the window or any glass partition is fine.

You can’t go wrong with an exact copy of the ancient shield decorated with your arms ,just like it was in use smile and hung for a while…They display well on a plain or rustic wall of brick or stone .  Good in case you have to move somewhere else.

Heavy marble or any kind of limestone or sandstone is relatively expensive but one of more elegant for a mension .

And of course ,modern technique offers very good synthetic imitations of any material , but these must be used with caution .

 
Guy Power
 
Avatar
 
 
Guy Power
Total Posts:  1576
Joined  05-01-2006
 
 
 
30 September 2011 15:13
 

For exterior use ... perhaps sandstone; a medium that is easily worked, but also weathers easily.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Eglinton_Montgomerie_coat_of_Arms.JPG/448px-Eglinton_Montgomerie_coat_of_Arms.JPG

larger image here

 

I’ve seen arms, similar to the above example, embedded within the wall, above the door, of houses and castles.  Always thought it looked nice.  Saw many examples in Germany marking the entrance to a town’s or city’s boundary.

 

—Guy

 
Guy Power
 
Avatar
 
 
Guy Power
Total Posts:  1576
Joined  05-01-2006
 
 
 
30 September 2011 15:23
 

Spanish example:

http://static.photaki.com/coat-of-arms-castle-of-alicante-spain_317215.jpg

Link here in case the image disappears in the future.

Scotland:

http://www.exploring-castles.com/image-files/craigmillar_castle_arms.jpg

Link here

 

Latvia:

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/4/2555506-Coat_of_arms_on_the_castle_wall_Talsu_Rajons.jpg

Link here

 

Bodiam Castle, Sussex:

http://www.free-images.org.uk/bodiam/wardeux-coat-of-arms.jpg

The shield was positioned on the gatehouse of Bodiam Castle. The shield was originally painted in silver, black and gold.

Link here

 
Aquilo
 
Avatar
 
 
Aquilo
Total Posts:  278
Joined  02-10-2010
 
 
 
30 September 2011 16:07
 

All examples are great , I like the neat one from Latvia and from the Bodiam Castle , but I understand that we are talking about the external part of an indoor chimney ..smile not that above the roof ?

 
j.carrasco
 
Avatar
 
 
j.carrasco
Total Posts:  639
Joined  20-04-2011
 
 
 
30 September 2011 17:47
 

These images are great!  I wish I was rich enough to 1) own a house and 2) have my arms above a fireplace like that.

 
Guy Power
 
Avatar
 
 
Guy Power
Total Posts:  1576
Joined  05-01-2006
 
 
 
30 September 2011 23:03
 

Aquilo;88080 wrote:

All examples are great , I like the neat one from Latvia and from the Bodiam Castle , but I understand that we are talking about the external part of an indoor chimney ..smile

larger image of mantle

Another at Eilean Donan:

link

 
Andrew Stewart Jamieson
 
Avatar
 
 
Andrew Stewart Jamieson
Total Posts:  244
Joined  13-05-2011
 
 
 
02 October 2011 05:39
 

Caledonian;88032 wrote:

Limestone or sandstone are traditional building materials for these types of accent carvings when embedded into a wall of brick or masonry construction:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2073085217_834f2bf624.jpg

 

This type of architectural element does require a skilled stonecutter in order to create it however, and sadly these are in short supply. As an alternative, you might check with a local monument company, the type who do cemetery monuments, and see if they can cut the design you want in on a slab of granite or stone in the appropriate thickness.


I concur, Limestone for me would be the choice. We use it a lot in the UK and here is a photo I took whilst visiting my Fiance’s family in America last year, (excuse the legs) and a close up of the arms. As you can see the family had the arms carved in limestone and set above the door when the house was built in a Edward Lutyens style, many years ago.

 

http://jamiesongallery.com/howardarms2.html

 

http://jamiesongallery.com/howardarms1.html

 
Aquilo
 
Avatar
 
 
Aquilo
Total Posts:  278
Joined  02-10-2010
 
 
 
02 October 2011 06:34
 

Guy Power;88089 wrote:

Hmmm ... I took it to mean exterior—as in outside.  If he meant the mantle or above the mantle:

http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal/albums/userpics/10027/clanshields_e_d_castle.jpg

larger image of mantle

 

Another at Eilean Donan:

link


Such a great ambiance ! I would enjoy living there smile

 
Ce Howard
 
Avatar
 
 
Ce Howard
Total Posts:  63
Joined  29-09-2011
 
 
 
02 October 2011 07:30
 

Andrew Stewart Jamieson;88143 wrote:

I concur, Limestone for me would be the choice. We use it a lot in the UK and here is a photo I took whilst visiting my Fiance’s family in America last year, (excuse the legs) and a close up of the arms. As you can see the family had the arms carved in limestone and set above the door when the house was built in a Edward Lutyens style, many years ago.

http://jamiesongallery.com/howardarms2.html

 

http://jamiesongallery.com/howardarms1.html


You should post some of the others you took in the neighborhood.  They might be helpful if nothing else fun to look at. :USA:

 
Caledonian
 
Avatar
 
 
Caledonian
Total Posts:  153
Joined  13-09-2011
 
 
 
02 October 2011 08:19
 

Andrew Stewart Jamieson;88143 wrote:

I concur, Limestone for me would be the choice. We use it a lot in the UK and here is a photo I took whilst visiting my Fiance’s family in America last year, (excuse the legs) and a close up of the arms. As you can see the family had the arms carved in limestone and set above the door when the house was built in a Edward Lutyens style, many years ago.

http://jamiesongallery.com/howardarms2.html

 

http://jamiesongallery.com/howardarms1.html


A very nice touch to a home built in what we in America would refer to as Tudor Revival architecture. I’ve always been very fond of the half-timbered look. A fascinating crest, by the way. Is there a story behind it?

 
Aquilo
 
Avatar
 
 
Aquilo
Total Posts:  278
Joined  02-10-2010
 
 
 
02 October 2011 09:27
 

While planning my house I decided on chimneys curved in a local type of limestone .It’s warm color naturally blends with the tone of walls and it suits my taste.I chose to display only a shield , but since the main construction was done before I discovered the exact depiction of my family coat of arms, the curving was done according to my previous knowledge and believe that is should be good old PRUS smile

 
Richard G.
 
Avatar
 
 
Richard G.
Total Posts:  451
Joined  26-07-2011
 
 
 
02 October 2011 11:42
 

A lovely room Anna and I like the simplicity of your shield. The design on the frieze just below the mantle on your fireplace looks familiar - lotus or papyrus perhaps?