Sable (heraldry)

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This article describes the heraldic tincture sable. For other uses, see Sable (disambiguation).

In heraldry, sable is the tincture black, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures, called "colours". In engravings and line drawings, it is sometimes depicted as a region of crossed horizontal and vertical lines or else marked with sa. as an abbreviation.

The name derives from the black fur of the sable, an animal.

[edit] Sable as a metal

Sable is considered a colour in British and French heraldry, and contrasts with lighter metals, argent and Or. However, in the heraldry of Germany, Polish heraldry and other parts of central Europe, sable is not infrequently treated as a third fur tincture. 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 flag of Albania.

Sable is said to represent the following:

Of jewels, the diamond
Of heavenly bodies, Saturn
Of the four elements, earth
Of the days of the week, Saturday
Of the months of the year, December
Of metals, lead and iron
Of trees, the olive and the pine
Of the Zodiac signs, Taurus and Virgo
Of birds, the eagle
Of virtues, Science, modesty, and affliction

The Heraldic Tincture Series
Rule of Tincture
Metals: Argent • Or
Colours: Azure • Gules • Purpure • Sable • Vert
Furs: Ermine • Vair • Potent
Stains: Murrey • Tenné • Sanguine
Other: Bleu celeste • Carnation • Cendrée • Orange