~Oreillers~

1) Rare 17th century Italian coat-of-arms/crest featuring a lion’s paw with four pads and claws. This crest is more than likely a coat-of-arms for a knight since the lion traditionally symbolizes bravery, valor, strength, and royalty. The white ground it’s upon represents peace and sincerity, the blue truth and loyalty and the red means warrior or military strength. This crest is unique in the fact that the blue area is colored metal threads. The banner above has the initials ST GS and represents a reward for valiant service.

2) The second Italian coat-of-arms/crest features what’s called a “Bend Sinister” with drops. As the
shield would have been carried with the design facing outwards from the bearer, the bend sinister
would slant in the same direction a sash worn diagonally on the left shoulder. Sinister comes from the
Latin for left. The bend sinister has been used as a mark of illegitimacy though not in a negative way.
The bend sinister is called a charge laying on a field of white silk representing peace and sincerity. The
rare blue metal threads represent truth and loyalty. The banner above has the initials WT and
represents a reward for valiant service.

The crests are hand couched/sewn on light taupe colored designer silk velvet. Edged with an 18th
century gold metal thread and silk galon/trim, with an 18th century metal fringe that has patina. Finished
off with a 19th century German copper colored cording around the edges and all down insert.

Further History: Coats of arms, first used by knights, are typically simple in design. They were
established in the Middle Ages to identify a warrior when in full armor. When the warrior died the crest
was often passed down to a son or son-in-law with some design variation and then re-registered for a
single person but not family. Crests are never family crests. Crests are typically from nobility and high-
ranking priests and are notable for their crowns and much ornamentation. Crests for Barons have
crowns but are typically simple 3-pointed crowns.

(When ordering please specify Lions paw or Bend Sinister pillow)