Arms of the Historical and Geographical Institute of Juiz de Fora in Brazil:
They tried to get quite a bit of geography on that shield!
Yes indeed they did.
What is standing atop the mount slightly dexter of centre? Should I surmise with the precision of the mount that there might be some weather metre atop it that was included in the blazon? 
Looks like it might be a light house/beacon.
Perhaps someone with a better comprehension of Romance languages can suss it out on their website: http://www.ihgjf.com.br/
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The arms of the Historical and Geographic Institute of Juiz de Fora was created by Professor Newton Barbosa de Castro and has the following description: [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1. SHIELD [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Of Iberian style [i.e., with rounded bottom], in homage to our Portuguese roots, presenting the following elements:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1.1. Chief: Gules (red), having on the center a schematic representation of the terrestrial globe, alluding to geography. On each side of the globe, an hourglass with flowing sand, symbolizing the eternal passage of time, the element always connected with historical studies.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1.2. Field: Silver, presenting as the principal element the outline of the Morro do imperador [Emperor’s Hill], which, surmounted by the statue of Christ, visually symbolizes the city of Juiz de Fora, crowning its central area. In the lower part of the hill, which corresponds to the flat area of the city, is seen the Paraibuna River, sinuous, wavy of sable (black), on account of its name (Para+iwa+una = "useless, dark river"). On each bank of the river a golden bar symbolizes one of the primitive roads of the region, remotely [long ago?] responsible for the emergence and progress of the future city. In the left margin (the lower part of the design), the New Highway, and on the right (upper part), the Paraibuna road.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1.3. Bordure: Azure (blue), charged with 34 silver stars, in homage to the 34 founding members, who signged the roster of those present at the founding session, which took place on 18 March 1956. (Book of Attendees No. 1, pages 1 and 1-v.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2. EXTERNAL ORNAMENTATION[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2.1. Supporters: Two silver quill pens, symbolizing the vocation and the basic task of the historian: to write and publish the results of his research.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2.2. Crest: A golden book, lettered, surrounded by a laurel crown vert (green), in allusion to the other great symbol of those dedicated to study and research.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2.3. Scroll: Gules (red), bearing the following inscriptions: [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]° in the center: HISTORIA MAGISTRA VITAE (Cicero – Of the Orator, II, 9) [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]° on the sides: The date 18-03-1956, creation of the Institute.[/FONT]
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So, is this a nomination for our next annual design award?
(sound of head, ducking quickly…)
Joseph McMillan;64451 wrote:
<div class=“bbcode_left” >
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The arms of the Historical and Geographic Institute of Juiz de Fora was created by Professor Newton Barbosa de Castro and has the following description: [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1. SHIELD [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Of Iberian style [i.e., with rounded bottom], in homage to our Portuguese roots, presenting the following elements:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1.1. Chief: Gules (red), having on the center a schematic representation of the terrestrial globe, alluding to geography. On each side of the globe, an hourglass with flowing sand, symbolizing the eternal passage of time, the element always connected with historical studies.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1.2. Field: Silver, presenting as the principal element the outline of the Morro do imperador [Emperor’s Hill], which, surmounted by the statue of Christ, visually symbolizes the city of Juiz de Fora, crowning its central area. In the lower part of the hill, which corresponds to the flat area of the city, is seen the Paraibuna River, sinuous, wavy of sable (black), on account of its name (Para+iwa+una = "useless, dark river"). On each bank of the river a golden bar symbolizes one of the primitive roads of the region, remotely [long ago?] responsible for the emergence and progress of the future city. In the left margin (the lower part of the design), the New Highway, and on the right (upper part), the Paraibuna road.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.1.3. Bordure: Azure (blue), charged with 34 silver stars, in homage to the 34 founding members, who signged the roster of those present at the founding session, which took place on 18 March 1956. (Book of Attendees No. 1, pages 1 and 1-v.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2. EXTERNAL ORNAMENTATION[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2.1. Supporters: Two silver quill pens, symbolizing the vocation and the basic task of the historian: to write and publish the results of his research.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2.2. Crest: A golden book, lettered, surrounded by a laurel crown vert (green), in allusion to the other great symbol of those dedicated to study and research.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1.2.3. Scroll: Gules (red), bearing the following inscriptions: [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]° in the center: HISTORIA MAGISTRA VITAE (Cicero – Of the Orator, II, 9) [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]° on the sides: The date 18-03-1956, creation of the Institute.[/FONT]
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With the number of stars (mullets?) so high it should be semy, not have a particular named number.
Daniel C. Boyer;64468 wrote:
With the number of stars (mullets?) so high it should be semy, not have a particular named number.
They wanted to represent the 34 founding fathers. Sort of like how we have a star for every state on our flag.
Ah, a statue of the Christ. Seems useless to include when made so small.
Daniel C. Boyer;64468 wrote:
With the number of stars (mullets?) so high it should be semy, not have a particular named number.
"Semy" on a bordure? I would think that because it is a border rather than a field, "Semy" is one word that cannot be used.
Daniel C. Boyer;64468 wrote:
With the number of stars (mullets?) so high it should be semy, not have a particular named number.
Stars. "Mullets" is an English peculiarity that a Brazilian institution need not concern itself with.
And since the number of stars has a particular significance, as explained on the Institute website, it must be specified in the blazon. Note that having a specific number of stars on a bordure is a long-established feature in Brazilian heraldry, cf. the royal and imperial arms as well as those of the modern republic.
Doug Welsh;64474 wrote:
"Semy" on a bordure? I would think that because it is a border rather than a field, "Semy" is one word that cannot be used.
Wrong. When there are apparently a great number of charges on a bordure it is often a bordure semy of such charges rather than being charged with a specific number. There are cases of the latter, which makes me mutter darkly.
Daniel C. Boyer;64480 wrote:
Wrong. When there are apparently a great number of charges on a bordure it is often a bordure semy of such charges rather than being charged with a specific number. There are cases of the latter, which makes me mutter darkly.
I’d say wrong is too strong. True semy requires charges to be strewn in such a manner that some of them are "cut off" at the edges of the shield or ordinary - look at representations of France Ancient. In the Brazilian example I am sure that whole stars are a requirement.
Normally I would just blazon them without mentioning the number. The difficulty is when a large number is an important aspect of the design.
James
Well Gentlemen I don’t see any problem. Here the number of stars obviously have meaning and thus is important to mention the exact number.
