Or (heraldry)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In heraldry, or (from the French word for gold) is the tincture of gold, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a pattern of dots. It is very frequently depicted as yellow, though gold leaf was used in many illuminated manuscripts and more extravagant rolls of arms.

The word gold is occasionally used in place of Or in blazon, sometimes to prevent repetition of the word Or in a blazon, or because this substitution was in fashion when the blazon was first written down, or is preferred by the officer of arms.

Or is frequently spelt with a capital letter (e.g. Gules, a fess Or) so as not to confuse it with the conjunction or.

Or is said to represent the following:

Of jewels, the topaz
Of heavenly bodies, the Sun
Of metals, gold
Of virtues, courage and honor

v • d • e 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