Finnish heraldry

Finnish heraldry has common past with Swedish heraldry until 1809 and it belongs to German heraldic tradition.

Official Heraldry

Arms of the historical provinces of Finland originate from the Early Vasa era. Arms of the Grand Duchy of Finland was created 1581.

During the 1950s and 1960s heraldry in Finland had an upswing that is quite unique in history of heraldry. In short time coats of arms were designed to all municipalities of Finland. Arms were designed with high standards. Notable designers were Gustaf von Numers, Ahti Hammar and Olof Eriksson. A Danish heraldist Sven Tito Achen has esteemed them best of the world.

Samples

Private Heraldry

The oldest known coat of arms in Finland is in the seal of Bertold, "vouti" of Häme Castle (1297).

Coats of arms of the nobility are recorded by Finnish House of Nobility. The last ennoblement was 1912. Coronets of rank are the same as in Swedish heraldry.

After renaissance of municipal heraldry the interest expanded also to adopting burgher arms. Burgher arms were used in Finland in 17th and 18th centuries by wealthy merchants, priests, officers and magistrates, but in many cases by one generation only and they became rare after royal statute against “use of ‘noble shield and open helmet’ by burghers, 1762”. In fact, non-noble family heraldry now began from almost nothing. Heraldic Society of Finland began unofficially to keep register on burgher arms, which were published in 2006 as an armorial, containing 1356 arms. Swedish edict against “use of ‘noble shield and open helmet’ by burghers" is still respected and Heraldic Society of Finland does take in its register burgher arms only with tilting helmet.Each President of Finland needs a coat of arms as a member of Order of the Seraphim in Sweden and for Order of the Elephant in Denmark. Presidents' new coats of arms get nowadays in Finland lots of publicity.

Characteristics

Finnish heraldry is generally quite high quality, which can be seen from The Ten Commandments for a Designer of Finnish Heraldry. Finnish heraldry has introduced some new lines of partition, such as "Fir twig partition" (havukoro) and "Fir tree top partition" (kuusikoro). Finnish heraldry has also had some influence on South African heraldry.

Some Basic Vocabulary

*heraldry = heraldiikka
*coat of arms = vaakuna
*coat of arms of a noble family = aatelisvaakuna
*burgher arms = porvarisvaakuna

See also

*Coat of arms of Finland

References

*Sven Tito Achen: The Modern Civic Heraldry of Finland – The World’s Best. Report of The XVIth International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in Helsinki 16-21 August 1984, Edited by Tom C. Bergroth. Printed by Gummerus Oy 1986. ISBN 951-99640-4-5
*Bo Tennberg: The Renaissance of Heraldry in Finland. Report of The XVIth International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in Helsinki 16-21 August 1984, Edited by Tom C. Bergroth. Printed by Gummerus Oy 1986. ISBN 951-99640-4-5

External links

* [http://www.kunnat.net/k_peruslistasivu.asp?path=1;29;102942;486;84531 Municipal coats of arms of Finland]
* [http://www.heraldica.fi/ Heraldic Society of Finland]
** [http://www.heraldica.fi/Toiminta/Rekisteri/rekisteri.htm Coats of arms in registered by Heraldic Society of Finland] (click "PORVARISVAAKUNAT" on left)