Sable (heraldry)

Etymology

The word sable can be traced back to Middle English, Anglo-French, and ultimately to the Middle Low German sabel, which refers to a species of marten known as a sable. This is related to the Middle High German zobel, which is of Slavic origin and akin to the Russian соболь sobol', which likewise refers to the sable. Since at least the 14th century, sable has been used as a synonym for the colour black.

Both sable and negro are used for black in Spanish heraldry. In Portuguese, black is known as negro, and in Germany the colour is called Schwarz. Sabel is the spelling used in Dutch heraldry.

Poetic meanings

The different tinctures are traditionally associated with particular heavenly bodies, precious stones, virtues, and flowers, although these associations have been mostly disregarded by serious heraldists. Sable is associated with:

• Of jewels, the diamond
• Of heavenly bodies, Saturn
• Of virtues, constancy or prudence
• Of flowers, the herb nightshade, in these circumstances also called dwal

Sable in Central Europe

Sable is considered a colour in British and French heraldry, and contrasts with lighter metals, argent and Or. However, in the heraldry of Germany, Poland and other parts of Central Europe, sable is not infrequently placed on colour fields. As a result, a sable cross may appear on a red shield, or a sable bird may appear on a blue or a red field, as in the arms of Albania.

In Hungary, for example, one can find examples of sable on gules and azure fields as early as the sixteenth century in the arms of the family Kanizsai (granted in 1519): Azure, an eagle's wing sable taloned Or between a decrescent argent and a sun Or.{{cite book

Polish examples abound as early as the fifteenth century. Józef Szymański{{cite book

Sable charges on gules fields also appear in the armory used in Lithuania. This is not surprising, since a significant fraction of Lithuania's personal coats of arms are of Polish origin,{{cite book

Gallery

File:Arms of Dalzell, Earl of Carnwath.svg|Arms of Dalziel family of Scotland File:Arms of the Foljambe family of Walton.png|Arms of the Foljambe family of Walton, Osberton and Aldwark. File:Blason fam nl van Borssele de Zuylen 1.svg|Coat of arms of Frank II van Borselen. File:DEU Hueckelhoven COA.svg|Coat of arms of Hückelhoven, Germany. File:Blason fam fr Boissy d'Anglas.svg|Coat of arms of François-Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas. File:Blazon of the Castelyn family of London.png|Arms of the Castelyn family of London. File:Coat of arms of Albania.svg|The arms of Albania. File:Coat of arms of Samogitia.svg|The historical coat of arms of Samogitia File:Marquess of Winchester COA.svg|Arms of Paulet, Marquess of Winchester

References

Notes

References

1. "sable".
2. (1988). "The Oxford Guide to Heraldry". [[Oxford University Press]].
3. Elvin, Charles Norton. (1889). "A Dictionary of Heraldry". Kent.
4. Elvin (1889), p. 113.
5. Chambers, Ephraim. (1728). "Cyclopædia, or, an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences".