RULES OF HERALDRY - Exceptions
One of the fundamental rules is never to put metal on metal or enamel on enamel - for instance, gules on azure (red on blue) or argent on or (silver on gold). But there are exceptions, as detailed below.
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First, all coats of arms known as “à enquerre”, adopted before these rules were codified.
The arms of Godefroy de Bouillon (1061-1100), one of the leaders of the First Crusade, are often given as an example: "d'argent, à une croix d'or potencée, cantonnée de quatre croisettes d'or"…. “argent, with a potent cross in gold, cantoned with four gold crosslets”.
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Exceptions are also made for the accessory parts of an animal (claws or teeth) and for collars, rings or crowns attached to figures (see opposite), as well as for the fasces, pales, bends or bars of several enamels (chequered, vairy).
Here, the gules is laid over sable (red on black), so there is enamel on enamel.
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Also excepted are the brisures added to the original arms (labels, bends, borders or brochants, for example).
Here, the gold label (lambel), on the 2nd of the party, overlies a field of silver, so there is metal on metal.
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Likewise exempt are all pieces known as brochant or brouchant, i.e. they are superimposed.
The pale in gules overlies in party on the 2nd of the coupé (or party per fesse), so it is “gules on azure”. |
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Finally, as for quartered arms which sometimes seem to infringe this prohibition on placing one metal on another… In fact, they are blazoned quarter by quarter and thus observe the rule only for each quarter individually.
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