Wooden reproduction of family coat of arms | Heraldic woodcarving | Custom-made crests & arms carved in wood

Wooden reproduction of family coat of arms

Wooden reproduction of family coat of arms 

 Custom-made crests & arms  carved in wood

 ‘One could indeed say that heraldic coats of arms carved in wood have, to a certain extent, become one of my specialities.

I also really enjoy doing it; it is always a personal challenge to be able to carve a family coat of arms in wood. Heraldry is also a very interesting subject and I always look forward to starting a new commission for a heraldic coat of arms.

!!! CNC routering or even AI images of coat of arms.

As for the internet, it is important to remain vigilant: do not be misled by ‘good reviews’ or the appearance of images offered online. Many of these photos, supposedly from ‘colleagues’, are not handmade, but are the result of CNC machine production.

 For the true connoisseur, such works have no lasting value in the long term, as they lack the unique character and craftsmanship that distinguish hand-carved pieces. After all, authentic craftsmanship can be recognised by subtle details and a personal touch, something that machine production can never fully replicate.’

‘Every heraldic sculpture or bas-relief usually starts with a design or image that the customer sends me. In some cases, I am obliged to add a helmet and/or mantling to this design, but always with respect for the original. I don’t usually touch the shield and the crest. 

Several clients have had their coat of arms registered somewhere before coming to me and they believe that the version of the coat of arms on their certificate or letters patent is the only way their coat of arms can or may be displayed. That is not the case, of course, but I respect their wishes in this regard.’

‘It is true that a design on paper cannot always serve as a blueprint for cutting wood; the lines are slightly different, since they have to be translated into a relief design. In such cases, there is really no other option.’

‘Once I know the correct contours of the coat of arms, I can start selecting the wood. Sometimes planks are glued together or on top of each other and then planed and cut out. Sometimes a whole structure is needed.

‘For a high relief family coat of arms, the outline of the design must first be cut out: the mantling, helmet, supporters – and sometimes the crest as well – are then glued onto a board and a piece of paper is glued between the board and, for example, the supporters. This paper – usually a newspaper – later serves as a dividing line to separate the board from the finished component.’

Some years ago, when a customer asked me if it was possible too applied heraldic colors, I went in search of a specialist who could do this professionally. I ultimately chose a fellow craftsman who specialises in ‘writing’ icons and therefore also has complete mastery of the technique of applying gold and silver leaf. The heraldic colours and metals are applied in this traditional artisanal manner, if the customer so desires, of course.

Ultimately, the choice of a family coat of arms in wood with or without colours is a personal choice or matter of taste. However, options such as a family crest made entirely in gold or silver or using a technique that imitates a marble effect are also possible; the result – especially in the latter case – is remarkable and relatively unknown.’

 

https://www.patrickdamiaens.info