Crest (Heraldry) carved in wood | Heraldic sculpture | Heraldic beast

Crest (Heraldry) carved in wood  

Heraldic sculpture

2024, a commission from a Canadian client to craft a crest in lime wood. What is a crest? 

This carving/sculpture is part of an existing family coat of arms and, as the word suggests, is depicted/placed on top of the helmet.  

It can be something very simple, such as a star, tree or flower... ... or something more complex, such as a lion, dragon or griffin... The choice of crest designs seems limitless.

To give you a better visual impression, the image below shows a number of family crests that I have created in the past, with the black arrow indicating the crest.

The black arrow indicates the crest.
(Bas-relief | family coat of arms carved in wood)

It is rare for a client to order a helmet crest as a freestanding sculpture. 

This requires a completely different technique and approach than creating a helmet crest in bas-relief, which I have done many times for traditional family coats of arms. 

A heraldic sculpture is carved all around, it is a freestanding object and it requires a completely different carving technique and approach than I am used to.

A sculpture naturally requires thicker wood and, as my studio (and machines) are not suitable, I had to use the services of a furniture maker. 

Securing it to the workbench (a workbench that is lower than normal) is one such variation. For carving bas-reliefs, “at elbow height” (115 cm, for me) is most recommended, and carving a sculpture at (80 cm) height (for me) is most ideal.

Securing the block of wood to be worked on to the workbench also requires a completely different technique than for bas-relief and low-relief carving.

 I always start with rough cutting, at this stage I sometimes use a chainsaw, securing it to the workbench with a figure screw.

Large pieces can be removed without much effort and, for an initial rough design, this figure screw, which is attached under the sculpture and through the workbench, is, in my opinion, the most ideal start. 

Figure screw for statues

Heraldic sculptures are secured to the workbench

using a figure screw.

At a later stage (refining), we switch to the ball-and-screw clamp system. This clamp allows the sculpture to be rotated in all directions, enabling the woodcarver to refine the sculpture in the most ideal way.

Sculpture-heraldic beast clamped onto the ball clamp block 

ideal positions for refining the statue.

Here are a few stages in

 carving a heraldic sculpture 

(Heraldic beast)

LION

Converting sculpture 

from figure screw to ball clamp.

Base

The base of the sculpture? 

A fellow woodturner made this for me; his workshop is picture perfect. 

Wings

Tail

Heraldic beast-crest is finished

Crest (Heraldry) carved in wood  |
Heraldic sculpture | Heraldic beast

https://www.patrickdamiaens.info

Custom Family Crest Sign | Coat of arms Carved Signs | Heraldic woodcarver | Custom Coat of Arms and Family Crest

Custom Family Crest Sign | Coat of arms Carved Signs |
Custom Coat of Arms and Family Crest

Custom Family Crest Sign | Coat of arms Carved Signs | Heraldic woodcarver | 

Custom Coat of Arms and Family Crest

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https://www.patrickdamiaens.info

Carving a heraldic Commission

The process is very simple. Please send our woodcarving studio a picture or heraldic design of what you'd like made. Also tell me what size you'd like your heraldic sculpture to be, and maybe you have some special requirements you may have.  

I will send you a quotation free of charge.  If you find it acceptable, we make clear agreements on advances and deadlines. When the heraldic sculpture of your coat of arms - crest is complete I will mail your item, packaged securely and insured by DHL.  

Personal checks ( expensive), a normal banktransfer and XOOM ( a Paypal service).... are all acceptable forms of payments. And for every payment you recieve an invoice.  If I am working on your heraldic commission, I will always send you photos of the carving stages, so that you will always know how the custom sculpture is progressing. 

You are also always welcome in my studio for a visit, coffee is always available.

The Coat of arms “or Coat armour” dates back to the mid-12th century when knights began to have their shields decorated with marks to identify them.

These marks and colors evolved into a way to identify the bearer as a member of a certain family, clan or allegiance. The coat of arms represents the bearer’s family lineage and is traditionally passed down from fathers to sons.

A family crest is the element placed on top of the helm or helmet and indicates the rank or designation of the original bearer of the Coat of Arms.

The mantling is a depiction of the protective cloth worn by knights which is usually shown tattered or cut to shreds. Less often it is shown as an intact drape, suggesting that the bearer did not involve himself with combat, such as a clergyman.  At the bottom, a scroll bears a motto or the origin of the Family name.

Rusian client

From the stripes on the shield to the images depicted, the Coat of Arms is the coded family history of the person or family who owned the Coat of Arms. The study of Coats of Arms and their meaning is called Heraldry and in some countries the official Herald is appointed by the Government and has the only office able to issue and regulate Coats of Arms.

Nearly all surnames originating in Western or Eastern Europe have some or other version of a Coat of Arms. If you have a surname originating in Europe, somewhere in your genealogy, over the course of history, it is most likely that a member of your family rose to distinction and earned a Coat of Arms. This is a mark of your History and in a sense belongs to you.

A beautifully hand carved Coat of Arms is a symbol of honor and a family heirloom to hand down to future generations; a highly prized gift to someone who values their families’ origin and culture. It gives the bearer a sense of place and belonging; a reminder of a family’s ongoing responsibility to honor the family name.

Over the past eighteen years, the sign carver has produced many Coats of Arms of various sizes for Families, Schools and businesses. These have been either carved in wood or made of clay and cast in cement. We offer custom made Family Coats of Arms with colour or natural wood, cement (painted or plain) or painted resin.

Belgian client

German client

Duché d'Amerval (France)

https://www.patrickdamiaens.info