In heraldry, carnation is a tincture, the name for skin colour,[1][2] more exactly the colour of pale or European human skin[3] (i.e., pale pinkish orange).

Carnation tincture
Carnation tincture
Coat of arms of Lavoûte-Chilhac, France: D'argent à la main de carnation tenant une croix de sable. (Argent, a hand carnation holding a cross sable)

It is rare in coats of arms in Anglophone countries but quite frequent on the European continent, in France in particular, derived from widespread use in German heraldry.[citation needed] In its rare appearances in Anglophone armory; it is not only used for European flesh tones, as in a crown rayonny or supported by two cubit arms, dexter carnation, sinister skeletal proper (crest of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists)[4] but is also used for a general pink colouring as in a horse passant argent bridled saddled and trappings or, on its head a plume of three feathers carnation (crest of The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, England).[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Friar, Stephen, ed. (1987). A New Dictionary of Heraldry. London: Alphabooks/A&C Black. p. 81. ISBN 0-906670-44-6.
  2. ^ Cadogan Rothery, Guy (1915) [1994]. Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry. London: Senate, an imprint of Studio Editions Ltd. p. xvii. ISBN 1-85958-049-1.
  3. ^ Mike Oettle. "Colours of dye". Armoria. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Coat of Arms: History and meaning of the College's Coat of Arms". The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Arms of the Saddlers Company". The Worshipful Company of Saddlers. Retrieved 28 January 2014. [dead link]