Argent

Argent

In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it. In engravings and line drawings, regions to be tinctured argent are either left blank, or may be indicated with the abbreviation ar. in them.

The name derives from Latin "argentum", which derives from the Greek "'Αργυρος", translated as silver or "white metal". The word "argent" had the same meaning in Old French blazon, from which it passed into the English language.

In some historical depictions of coats of arms, a kind of silver leaf was applied to those parts of the device that were argent. Over time, the silver content of these depictions has tarnished and darkened. As a result, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish regions that were intended as argent from those that were sable. The result is a false impression that the rule of tincture has been violated in cases where the argent was applied next to a dark colour, and where it now appears to be sable next to a dark colour from tarnishing.

Argent and white

Arthur Charles Fox-Davies argued extensively in his book "The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopaedia of Armory" that, though extremely rare, the colour white existed as an independent tincture in heraldry, separate from argent. He bases this in part on the "white labels" used to difference the arms of members of the British Royal Family. However, it has been argued that these could be regarded as "white labels proper", thus rendering white not a heraldic tincture. [http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/Forum/ShowMessage.asp?ID=2700]

White does seem to be regarded as a different tincture from argent in Portuguese heraldry, as evidenced by the arms of [http://www.fisicohomepage.hpg.ig.com.br/stc.htm municipal de Santiago do Cacém] in Portugal, in which the white of the fallen Moor's clothing and the knight's horse is distinguished from the argent of the distant castle, and in the arms of the Logistical and Administrative Command of the Portuguese Air Force.

Argent is said to represent the following:

* Of jewels, the pearl
* Of heavenly bodies, the Moon
* Of metals, silver

ee also

*Silver
*White


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  • ARGENT — L’argent, élément chimique de symbole Ag et de numéro atomique 47, est l’un des métaux les plus anciennement connus. Il semble cependant que sa découverte soit postérieure à celle des deux autres métaux de la même famille chimique: l’or et le… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • argent — ARGENT. s. m. Métal blanc, le plus parfait et le plus précieux après l or. Mine d argent. Minière d argent. Veine d argent. Barre, lingot d argent. Argent de mine. Argent de chimie. Argent de bon aloi. Argent de coupelle. Argent de Paris. Argent… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • argent — Argent, Pecunia, argentum, les Alquemistes appellent l argent lune. Argent trespur et bien affiné, Argentum pustulatum. Argent monnoyé, Argentum, Nummus argenteus. Vif argent, Argentum viuum. Argent duquel on n a rien osté, Argentum incolume.… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • argent — ARGENT. s. m. Metal blanc, le plus parfait aprés l or. Mine, miniere d argent. veine d argent. barre, lingot d argent. Monnoye d argent. medailles, jettons, pieces d argent. Ouvrages d argent. vaisselles, estoffes, passements d argent. Argent de… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • ARGENT — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Argent (homonymie). Création 21 février 2005 Propriétaire Groupe TVA (Quebecor Media) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Argent — ist der Name folgender geographischer Objekte in Frankreich: Argent sur Sauldre, Gemeinde im Département Cher Côte d’Argent, ein Abschnitt an der französischen Atlantikküste Kanton Argent sur Sauldre im Département Cher der Oberlauf des Flusses… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Argent-Or — Argentor Der Fluss bei PoursacVorlage:Infobox Fluss/KARTE fehlt Daten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • argent — argènt m. argent. L argent a la coa lisa prov. . Ni per aur ni per argent : à aucun prix. Escars d argent : court d argent ; pécuniairement un peu juste …   Diccionari Personau e Evolutiu

  • Argent — Жанры рок прогрессивный рок фьюжн хард рок Годы 1968 1976 …   Википедия

  • Argent — Ar gent, n. [F. argent, fr. L. argentum, silver; akin to Gr. a rgyros silver, argo s, argh s, white, bright, Skr. rajata white, silver, raj to shine, Ir. arg white, milk, airgiod silver, money, and L. arguere to make clear. See {Argue}.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Argent — Ar gent, a. Made of silver; of a silvery color; white; shining. [1913 Webster] Yonder argent fields above. Pope. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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