(Click on the above image to zoom)
 

With its varied combinations of “balls” (pearls) and “strawberry leaves”, the Heraldic Coronet as a symbol of rank is often seen on English silver, either engraved as part of a Coat of Arms or as a Heraldic Crest. It confirmed ownership and advertised pedigree. More unusually, it was used as part of the design of a piece of silver, or even as a standalone object, most probably commissioned by the Peer himself, and the group of silver and gold Vinaigrettes shown here illustrate the phenomenon nicely.



    
 

Please visit the Vinaigrettes Category on the Steppes Hill Farm
Antiques Web Site to see details of these four Vinaigrettes



Heraldic Coronets of Rank in Great Britain
 

A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. By one definition, a coronet differs from a crown in that a coronet never has arches, and from a tiara in that a coronet completely encircles the head, while a tiara does not. By a slightly different definition, a crown is worn by an emperor, empress, king or queen; a coronet by a nobleman or lady. The main use is now actually not on the head (indeed, many people entitled to a coronet never have one made; the same even applies to some monarchs' crowns, as in Belgium) but as a rank symbol in heraldry, adorning a coat of arms.

In the United Kingdom, a peer wears his or her coronet on one occasion only: for a royal coronation, when it is worn along with coronation robes, equally standardised as a luxurious uniform.

In the peerages of the United Kingdom, the design of a coronet shows the rank of its owner, as in German, French and various other heraldic traditions. Dukes were the first individuals authorised to wear coronets. Marquesses acquired coronets in the 15th century, earls in the 16th and viscounts and barons in the 17th. Until the barons received coronets in 1661, the coronets of earls, marquesses and dukes were engraved while those of viscounts were plain. After 1661, however, Viscomital coronets became engraved, while baronial coronets were plain. Coronets may not bear any precious or semi-precious stones.

• The coronet of a Duke (a silver-gilt circlet, chased as jewelled but not actually gemmed) has eight strawberry leaves of which five are seen in two-dimensional representations.
• The coronet of a Marquess has four strawberry leaves and four silver balls (known as "pearls", but not actually pearls), slightly raised on points above the rim, of which three leaves and two balls are seen.
• The coronet of an Earl has eight strawberry leaves (four visible) and eight "pearls" or balls raised on stalks, of which five are visible.
• The coronet of a Viscount has sixteen "pearls" or balls touching one another, nine being seen in representation.
• The coronet of a Baron or Lord of Parliament in the Scots peerage (a plain silver-gilt circlet) has six "pearls" or balls of which four are visible.

Since a person entitled to wear a coronet customarily displays it in his or her coat of arms above the shield and below the helm and crest, this can provide a useful clue as to the owner of a given coat of arms.

Silver Sauce or Condiment Labels