Heraldry

Heraldry is a visual story telling who the bearer is. Each color and symbol has a meaning. When all of the pieces are put together, they tell the lineage of the owner.

A Standard is a long, narrow, tapering flag, granted to those who have a following, such as but not limited to clan chiefs. As a "headquarters" flag, its principal use is to mark the gathering point or headquarters of the clan, family or following and does not necessarily denote the presence of the standard's owner as his personal banner does.

A Banner is a square or rectangular flag showing only that part of a coat of arms which appears on the shield. A banner may either be flown from a flagstaff or carried in procession. This is the personal flag of an armiger which shows the arms, as depicted on the shield, and nothing else. The purpose of a banner is to locate and identify its owner and it is the visual equivalent of his name. Flown over his house, it identifies his property; elsewhere, it indicates his presence. The size of a house banner will depend on the height of the building and the pole. It would be large enough to be identifiable from a reasonable distance. The best shape for a heraldic house flag is square, regardless of its size. A smaller banner may also be carried in processions, either by its owner of by his appointed bearer. Such a banner is usually made in fine fabric and may be fringed. Its proportions should be those of an upright rectangle about five wide by six deep.