|
TABLE SHIELDS The table shield has been designed as an alternative to the table banner, to display a coat of arms at one’s place at table. The table banner is about 4 to 6 inches high and most normally features personal arms for formal dinners but society and corporate arms are also used in appropriate situations.
The advantages of the table shield over the silk or cloth banner are the numerous shield shapes which can be used, ease of transportation, and the use of the second side which no longer needs to show a duplicate or mirror image of the first.
(mouse over images for details, click to enlarge)
While your arms can feature on one side, your marital shield can feature on the second with your wife’s arms (or husband’s), your crest can be painted there, or your badge if you have one. The use of the heraldic badge on this side is very popular as so few opportunities exist for using the badge as a recognisable piece of heraldry. If you are lucky enough to head an armigerous organisation or are the Master of a London Guild, for example, the second side can show your personal arms impaled with the company’s arms. These arms of office can be used officially while you hold the office and displayed privately after this time as a commemoration of the post held. Of course your arms can be simply duplicated on both sides to great effect.
Your table shield will be made from thin MDF, a fibreboard commonly used in furniture. Hardwoods are difficult to work and worse, can shear off at the tip of a small item like this. Almost any of the dozens of shields used or just drawn over the centuries can be used as a basis for your blank. Please let me know if you have a particular favourite. Do be aware, though, that I use machine tools and do not carve, so I can put chamfers and gentle convex curves on the faces, but not cut concave or complex shapes into them. Also some arms fit more comfortably into one shape than another so I will be happy to advise you on this if need be.
The artwork will be applied in durable signwriting enamels with gold and/or silver leaf if appropriate. It may be possible to paint a shade on the field to give an impression of light falling on the surface, but this depends upon the design of your arms and the shield shape chosen. Varnish coats will give a high gloss finish but again some coats of arms are unsuitable for varnishing and, if so, I will advise you of this when delivered. |
|
HOME | ABOUT THE ARTIST | THE ARTIST'S PORTFOLIO | CONTACT THE ARTIST | FEES Entire contents Copyright © Baz Manning, all rights reserved Website design & maintenance
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
