View source for Heraldry

{{short description|Visual symbols and their meanings}}
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Idril Celebrindal heraldic devices.jpg|thumb|Sketches for [[Idril Celebrindal]]'s heraldic device, by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]
'''Heraldic devices''', '''emblems''' and '''flags''' are a minor element throughout of the [[legendarium]]. 

In the first phase of his [[legendarium|mythology]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] described the heraldic devices with vivid and figurative images, as can be seen particularly in the description of the [[#twelve houses of the Gondothlim|twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]; but in later narratives, the devices became few and simple. However, around [[1960]]-[[1961|61]], Tolkien also drew several devices for characters of the [[First Age]], which are more complex, but also ornamental and abstract.<ref name="Illustrator">{{HM|AI}}, "6. Patterns and Devices"</ref>{{rp|191}} This article deals with illustrations and textual descriptions in separated sections.

==Drawings==
Probably after finishing his drawings in the 1960's, Tolkien defined some rules for [[Elves|Elvish]] heraldry:<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|191}}
*Women's personal designs are set within a circle.
*Male's personal designs are set within a lozenge.
*General (impersonal) designs or emblems of a [[:Category:Elven noble houses|family]] are set within a square.
*The rank was usually held to be shown by number of 'points' which reached the outer rim:
**Four points were for princes.
**Six to eight points for kings.
**The great ancestors sometimes had as many as 16, as in [[#Elves|House of Finwë]].

===Elves===
As explained above, the personal emblems are set in a lozenge, while houses had them set in a square, so it is sure to assume some of the Elvish designs below (for example, [[Fëanor]] and the [[House of Fëanor]]) could be used by a noble family, having them tipped forty-five degrees. Tolkien only made this variation with the [[House of Finwë]]'s. Elven designs are symmetrical in all sides, unlike those of [[Men]], so they can be used in any position in a circular movement that probably reflected Elven [[immortality]].<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|192, 194-5}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Holder!!Commentary!!Publication history
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Finwë heraldic device (I).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[House of Finwë]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''Winged Sun''' / '''House of Finwe''' [> Finrod] / '''descending to [[High King of the Noldor|High Kings]]''' / '''[[Fingolfin]] - [[Fingon]]''' / '''[[Turgon]]. Those''' / '''descended from [[Finarphin]]''' / '''used blue star'''".

Both of Finwë's devices depict a Winged [[Sun]] (in contrast with [[Thingol]]'s Winged [[Moon]]); so Tolkien probably draw them with the [[Round World version of the Silmarillion|later versions of "The Silmarillion"]] in mind, in which the Sun already existed during the [[Great March]]. In previous versions, Finwë dies before the Sun and Moon are created. The sixteen wings correspond to Finwë's highest royalty among the [[Noldor]].<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|192, 194-5}}
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/32/ Tolkien Art Index #32].<ref group=note>''[https://tai.tolkienists.org/ The Tolkien Art Index]'' is a very detailed reference on the topic of this section. The notes from the original manuscripts that are quoted in this article can be found in each entry of the TAI. However the site has not been updated since [[2018]].</ref></center>
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'' ([[1973]]), back cover
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 194, #191
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' (second edition, [[2021]]), #47
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), pp. 36, 63</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Finwë heraldic device (II).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Finwë]]||A lozenge variation of the previous device. According to the rules listed above, it would be Finwë's personal device.||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/63/ Tolkien Art Index #63].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'', April
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'', May
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'', intro</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Fëanor heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Fëanor]]||The original manuscript includes the tag "'''Fëanor'''".
Along with [[Fingolfin]]'s device, this one is clearly related to Finwë's, although its flames must be associated to Fëanor's name, "Spirit of Fire".<ref name="Pictures">{{HM|PT}}, [[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Heraldic Devices.jpg|#47. "Heraldic Devices"]]</ref> The coloured pieces that form the device could represent the creation of the [[Silmarils]] and crystals invented by Fëanor.<ref name="Bjorkman">{{webcite|author=[[Måns Björkman]]|articleurl=https://www.forodrim.org/gobennas/heraldry/heraldry.htm|articlename=Emblems and Heraldry|website=[https://www.forodrim.org/gobennas/gobennas_se.html Mellonath Gobennas]|accessed=15 May 2023}}</ref>
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/33/ Tolkien Art Index #33].</center> 
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'' ([[1973]]), back cover
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), February
*''[[The Silmarillion]]'' ([[1977]]), dust jacket (back)
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), October
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1992-07-17
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend]]'' ([[1992]]), p. 66
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), pp. 53, 96</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Star of the House of Feanor.png|150px]]</center>||[[House of Fëanor]]|| Originally drawn by Tolkien, the art of the Doors of Durin was emended by a printer's artist before print.
The emblem appears in the design of the [[Doors of Durin]] built by [[Narvi]] and [[Celebrimbor]], who was the grandson of Fëanor. [[Gandalf]] mentions it as "the Star of the House of Fëanor".<ref>{{FR|II4}}, p. 304</ref> In the ''[[The Lord of the Rings Index|1966 Index]]'', it is said that this star had eight rays and was of silver. It is probably a representation of a [[Silmaril]], as the eight points are similar to the emblems of Fëanor (above) and of the Silmarils (below).<ref name=Doors>{{HM|RC}}, p. 280</ref> 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/20/ Tolkien Art Index #20]</center>
*''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Journey in the Dark]]", [[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Doors of Durin.jpg|Doors of Durin drawing]], p. 305</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Silmarils heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Silmarils]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''Ancient''' / '''Emblem''' / '''representing''' / '''one derivation of''' / '''the [[Silmarils]]''' / '''from the [[Light of Valinor|light]] of''' / '''[[Two Trees of Valinor|the trees]] upon''' / '''[[Ezellohar]]'''". 

As noticed by [[Måns Björkman]], this is the only device for an object, rather than a person. It could have been used by the [[Noldor]] in the [[Battles of Beleriand|War of the Jewels]] as a mark of intentions against [[Morgoth]].<ref name="Bjorkman" /> The depicted tree is [[Laurelin]], with its characteristic green and golden colours.

This one, Beren's and Eärendil's devices are the only depictions of the Silmarils drawn by Tolkien.
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/67/ Tolkien Art Index #67].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1992-04-04
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), pp. i, 57</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Fingolfin heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Fingolfin]]; [[House of Fingolfin]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''Fingolfin &''' / '''his house'''". 
Its colours are similar to Finwë's, while its flames resemble Fëanor's.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|195}} The stars upon blue field could be a reference to his shield: "''his shield he bore / with field of heaven's blue and star / of crystal shining pale afar''".<ref>{{LB|C12}}, p. 284, vv. 3539-41</ref>
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/31/ Tolkien Art Index #31].</center>
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'' ([[1973]]), back cover
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), February
*''[[The Silmarillion]]'' ([[1977]]), dust jacket (back)
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), November
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1992-03-06
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend]]'' ([[1992]]), p. 67
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 195, #192
*''[[Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 81, #39
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), pp. 141, 227</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Finarfin Heraldic Device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Finarfin]]; [[House of Finarfin]], [[Finrod]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''Finarphin &''' / '''his House''' / '''esp. Finrod'''".
As Hammond and Scull explain, this device is more calm in comparison with the fiery devices of his brothers, appropiate for the one brother who stayed in the peace of Aman instead of joining the [[War of the Jewels]].<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|195}} This device could be a stylized version of the crown of golden flowers in his badge: "''For [[Ring of Barahir|this ring]] was like two twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarfin and his house''".<ref>{{S|Beren}}. Cf. also {{LB|C4}}, p. 191, vv. 1099-103</ref>

||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/310/ Tolkien Art Index #310]</center>
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend]]'' ([[1992]]), p. 66
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 195, #192
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 68</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Finarphin heraldic device (II).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Finarfin]]; [[House of Finarfin]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''<s>Finwe''' / ____</s> / '''Finarphin'''". 
This emblem must be the "blue star" used by the descendants of Finarphin mentioned in Finwë's device, but Tolkien seems to have opted for the one above and take this design for [[#Eärendil|Eärendil]]. Notice that the design can only be used as a square, so according to the rules explained above, it must be the device for the [[House of Finarfin]], rather than a personal one. 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/548/ Tolkien Art Index #548].</center>
*''[[Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 238, #82
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript]]'' ([[2022]]), p. 186</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Finrod Felagund heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Finrod Felagund]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "___ '''emblem''' / '''of Finrod'''".
Unlike the other devices, Finrod's is not symmetrical at all, which suggests it could have been created by [[Men]] for him.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|192}} The harp probably comes from the story of Finrod's encounter with the first [[Men]] that entered [[Beleriand]], in which he played a harp for them (''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Of the Coming of Men into the West|Chapter 17]]).<ref name="Pictures" /> The flaming torch might be related to the wisdom Men associated him with. 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/64/ Tolkien Art Index #64].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), August
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 238, #82
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript]]'' ([[2022]]), p. 186
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 108</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Elwë heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Elu Thingol]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''Winged Moon''' / '''a black with stars''' / '''Elwë'''".

The motif of the [[Moon]] was clearly made in contrast with the device of the House of Finwë above, although the character is not related with the Moon in the stories. According to the Elves heraldry rules, Elwë has eight points, so he is half of the rank of Finwë.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|195-6}} The relation with Finwë's device and its nocturnal motif probably shows that both started the [[Great Journey]], but Elwë was left in Middle-earth's night by Melian's enchantment.<ref name="Bjorkman"/> 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/38/ Tolkien Art Index #38].</center>
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'' ([[1973]]), back cover
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion]]'' ([[1977]]), dusk jacket (back)
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), May
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 194, #191
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), pp. 47, 122</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Lúthien Tinúviel heraldic device (I).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Lúthien Tinúviel]]||The original manuscript includes the title in [[Tengwar]]: "'''Lúthien''' / '''Tinúviel'''".

Lúthien is the only character with two different devices, probably due her dual nature: [[Maia]] and Elf. This one is closer to the device of her mother [[Melian]] (see [[#Maiar|below]]).<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|196}}

The white flowers that appear in both of Lúthien's devices are probably associated with the [[niphredil]] flowers that sprang at her birth, as told in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Of the Sindar|Chapter 10]].<ref name="Pictures" /> Although not related with Lúthien, the sun-like flower could be an [[elanor]], as that plant gave both silver and silver flowers.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|196}}
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/30/ Tolkien Art Index #30].</center>
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'' ([[1973]]), back cover
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), December
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1993-01-01
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend]]'' ([[1992]]), pp. 77, 85
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 197, #195
*''[[Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 237, #81
*''[[Tolkien: Treasures]]'' ([[2018]]), pp. 82-3
*''[[Tolkien: Voyage en Terre du Milieu]]'' ([[2019]]), p. 270, #191
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 81</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Luthien Heraldic Device II.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Lúthien Tinúviel]]|| The original manuscript includes the title both in [[Tengwar]] and Latin characters: "'''Lúthien Tinúviel'''".
See information above. This one, with white petals and stars upon a black background, is closer to the device of Lúthien's father [[Thingol]] as seen above.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|196}}
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/36/ Tolkien Art Index #36].</center>
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'' ([[1973]]), back cover
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), front cover
*''[[The Silmarillion]]'' ([[1977]]), dusk jacket (front)
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), July
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 197, #195
*''[[Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 237, #80
*''[[Tolkien: Treasures]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 80
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 21</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Idril Celebrindal heraldic device (I).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Idril Celebrindal]]||The original manuscript includes several notes:
*In [[Tengwar]] in blue pencil: "'''Menelluin Irildeo Ondolindello'''" ("Cornflower of Idril from [[Gondolin]]").
*In Latin characters in pencil to the lower right, "'''Idril's Device''' / '''The 'Cornflower' pattern''' / '''[[Menelluin]].''' / '''Origin of (often''' / '''debased) Numenorean''' / '''circular patterns'''".
*In Latin characters below, "'''Inlaid plaque''' / '''preserved from Gondolin''' / '''& descending from Earendil''' / '''to [[Númenor]], whence it was''' / '''saved by [[Elendil]] & taken to''' / '''[[Gondor]]'''".
* Date: "'''[[14 December|14/12]]/[[1960|60]]'''".

This design can be seen as twelve blue flowers upon black field, or twelve petals upon blue field. According to the rules of Elven heraldry, so many points reaching the outer rim signify her high rank as daughter of the king. Although the narratives give no explanation for this design with such colours, the blue cornflowers from the golden harvest could point to Idril's characteristic golden hair.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|192-3}}

Its design can be seen reflected in the [[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Tile 1.jpg|Númenórean tile]].<ref name="Pictures" />

||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/37/ Tolkien Art Index #37].</center>
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'' ([[1973]]), back cover
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion]]'' ([[1977]]), dust jacket (back)
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), July
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend]]'' ([[1992]]), p. 77, #218; p. 91
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 192, 189
*''[[Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 237, #79
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 116</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Idril Celebrindal heraldic device (II).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Idril Celebrindal]]||The original manuscript includes sketches and several variations for Idril's devices, four of them colored, but only this one can be considered finished. Tolkien seems to have opted for the one above.||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/119/ Tolkien Art Index #119].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), October
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend]]'' ([[1992]]), p. 75
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 192, #188</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Gil-galad heraldic device (I).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Gil-galad]]||The manuscript (a postcard) includes this and below's emblem, both of them not being completely finished, but probably Tolkien would have chosen this, as its design is completely symmetrical, it is more finished and it ingludes '''Gil-galad''' written behind it.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|194}} 
These designs are associated with Gil-galad's name, "Star of Radiance".<ref name="Pictures" /> "[[The Fall of Gil-galad]]" mentions that "''the countless stars of heaven's field'' / ''were mirrored in his silver shield''",<ref>{{FR|Knife}}, p. 185</ref> which is likely describing Gil-galad's heraldry.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 170</ref> 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/66/ Tolkien Art Index #66].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), April
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1992-04-24
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 193, #190
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 273</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Gil-galad heraldic device (II).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Gil-galad]]||See commentary above.||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/309/ Tolkien Art Index #309].</center>
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 193, #190</small>
|}

===Eärendil===
Tolkien seems to have been quite invested with [[Eärendil]]'s device, making more variations than any other. See Finarfin's second device above, which was clearly abandoned and used as the base for Eärendil's device instead. Hammond and Scull also describe a device for Eärendil with a star of six points, two of them being longer and touching the angles of above and below.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|194}}<ref group=note>Unless Hammond and Scull were giving a wrong description of [[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Finarphin heraldic device (II).jpg|Finarfin's abandoned device]], this emblem remains unpublished.</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Commentary!!Publication history
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Eärendil heraldic device (I).jpg|150px]]</center>||This drawing was crossed out and not emended. It includes elements from the two devices below, but it is unknown if it was done before.||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/35/ Tolkien Art Index #35].</center>
*''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974]]'', back cover
*''[[The Silmarillion]]'' ([[1977]]), dusk jacket (back)
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'', February
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend]]'' ([[1992]]), p. 66
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 235</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Eärendil heraldic device (II).jpg|150px]]</center>||The original manuscript includes "'''Earendil'''" written in two different directions, so, as noted by the TAI editors, the orientation of this device is unclear. Considering Eärendil's story, the stars should have their tails travelling straight down, as if the stars were rising, rather than falling.

Notice this device has only been included in two callendars, rather than a proper publication. 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/62/ Tolkien Art Index #62].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'', February
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'', February</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Eärendil heraldic device (III).jpg|150px]]</center>||The original manuscript (actually an envelope, dated [[13 December]] [[1960]]) includes "'''Earendel''' / '''Elrond?'''".

Being more detailed than the previous device, it was probably done later. The new incorporated elements were: a [[Silmaril]], concentric circles (maybe remeniscent of the [[:Wikipedia:Celestial spheres|medieval celestial spheres]]), inner star points and the stars in the four points are changed by the phases of the Moon. The division into twelve points makes the device similar to Idril's, Eärendil's mother.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|194}} The background colour makes the same connection. The phases of the Moon being different and thus breaking the Elven symmetry, could point to Eärendil's [[Half-elven]] condition.<ref name="Bjorkman"/>
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/117/ Tolkien Art Index #117].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), February
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 193, #190</small>
|}

===Men===
Men's designs are symmetrical, but unlike those of the Elves, only horizontally, with a pushing force upwards. This probably reflects Men's [[death|trascendental nature]], unlike Elven's enclosed immortality.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|195}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Holder!!Notes
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Bëor heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Bëor]]||As [[Måns Björkman]] explains, following the narratives, this was the first device created for a Man, hence it is the closest to the Elven style, being symmetrical in each side. However, it is less refined and more grounded than the Elven designs.<ref name="Bjorkman"/> ||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/68/ Tolkien Art Index #68].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), January
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), pp. 131, 216</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Hador heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Hador]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''Hador'''".
Måns Björkman speculates that the fiery colours of this device could be related to those of Fingolfin's, as the [[House of Hador]] was a vassal of his.<ref name="Bjorkman"/> 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/61/ Tolkien Art Index #61].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), February
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 178</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Haleth heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[House of Haleth]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''House of Haleth'''".

Unlike the previous Mannish designs, several details can be identified within it: a tree, a vine entwined around it, leaves or fruits around its branches, and two white flowers beneath it. The grey background could indicate a dark forest.

As Måns Björkman explains, its main characteristics may reflect the preference of the [[Haladin]] for [[Brethil|forests]] and solitude. It is also notable that this device breaks the heraldic rules, as its lozenge form is not for a person.<ref name="Bjorkman"/> 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/69/ Tolkien Art Index #69].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1992-05-08
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 188</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Beren Gamlost heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Beren]]||The original manuscript includes the note: "'''Beren Gamlost / historical / plaque'''".
Personal lozenge for Beren, created posthumously to commemorate his deeds. It depicts the three peaks of [[Thangorodrim]], the Silmaril rescued from [[Morgoth's crown]] and Beren's severed hand.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|195}} The star above could be a foretelling of the Silmaril's destiny.<ref name="Bjorkman"/> 
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/70/ Tolkien Art Index #70].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), August
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1993-01-03
*''[[Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth]]'' ([[2018]]), p. 238, #82
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript]]'' ([[2022]]), p. 186
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 93</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Heraldic device (of Man).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Men|Mannish holder]]||Nothing is known about this device, save it is of Man. It is reminiscent of Tolkien's [[Númenórean]] designs.||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/118/ Tolkien Art Index #118].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), June</small>
|}

===Dwarves===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Holder!!Notes!!History of publication
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Emblems of Durin.png|150px]]</center>||[[House of Durin]]|| Tolkien made several sketches for the Doors of Durin, which include variations for the emblems of Durin. With the last clean version, the art of the Doors of Durin was emended by a printer's artist.

When seeing the [[Doors of Durin]] built by [[Narvi]] and [[Celebrimbor]], [[Gimli]] points to them crying "''There are the emblems of Durin!''".<ref>{{FR|II4}}, p. 304</ref> In the ''[[The Lord of the Rings Index|1966 Index]]'', describes these emblems as "Seven stars (above a crown and anvil)". These eight-rayed stars represented the Plough.<ref name=Doors/> The crown with seven stars are a reference to [[Durin's Crown]] as sung in the song ''[[The world was young, the mountains green,|The world was young]]'': "''He stooped and looked in Mirrormere'' / ''And saw a crown of stars appear''".<ref>{{FR|II4}}, p. 316</ref>
The anvil and hammer is clearly a reference to [[Dwarves]]' skills. 

No other mention to Dwarven heraldry is given in drawings nor narrative.
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/20/ Tolkien Art Index #20]</center>
*''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Journey in the Dark]]", [[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Doors of Durin.jpg|Doors of Durin drawing]], p. 305</small>
|}

===Maiar===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Holder!!Notes!!History of publication
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Melian heraldic device.jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Melian]]|| The original manuscript includes the title "'''Melian'''".
Hammond and Scull explain this is one of the most complex designs, probably reflecting Melian's nature as a Maia and how she reflected the [[Light of Valinor|light]] of the West like a mirror.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|196}} However, it matches the design described in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', when Melian gave [[Beleg]] a store of [[lembas]]: "''wrapped in leaves of silver, and the threads that bound it were sealed at the knots with the seal of the Queen, a wafer of white wax shaped as a single flower of [[Telperion]]''".<ref>{{S|21}}</ref> When [[Túrin]] recognized the seal, he first refused the gift.<ref>{{UT|2o}}, p. 150</ref>
||<small><center>[https://tai.tolkienists.org/tai/65/ Tolkien Art Index #65].</center>
*''[[The Silmarillion Calendar 1978]]'' ([[1977]]), April
*''[[The Silmarillion Desk Calendar 1979]]'' ([[1978]]), September
*''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' ([[1979]]), #47
*''[[The Tolkien Diary 1992]]'' ([[1991]]), 1992-08-14
*''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator]]'' ([[1995]]), p. 196, #193
*''[[The Silmarillion]]: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien'' ([[2022]]), p. 45</small>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - G for Gandalf.png|150px]]</center>||[[Gandalf]]||Appropiate for vandalizing doors.<!-- Hobbit actually says wrt mark on door: And I assure you there is a mark on this door—the usual one in the trade, or used to be. Burglar wants a good job, plenty of Excitement and reasonable Reward, that’s how it is usually read. You can say Expert Treasure-hunter instead of Burglar if you like.-->
<br>"At Bilbo’s front door the old man began to unload: there were great bundles of fireworks of all sorts and shapes, each labelled with a large red G and the elf-rune, [[File:Certh 19.svg|12px]]."<ref>{{Cite DTP|LR 1.01.026}}</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings cover (detail).jpg|150px]]</center>||[[Orcs of Mordor]] ([[Sauron]]'s Orcs)||"The Orcs in the service of Barad-dûr use the sign of the [[Red Eye]]".<ref>{{TT|III1}}, p. 416</ref><br>"a single banner, black but bearing on it in red the Evil Eye."<ref>{{Cite DTP|LR 5.10.031}}</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - MSMFC Emblem.jpg|150px]]</center>||Mordor Special Mission Flying Corps|| The original manuscript includes the note: "'''MSMFC''' / '''Mordor Special Mission Flying Corps Emblem'''", as well as the eye and the name of Sauron.
Probably a mere game by Tolkien, who probably saw that a flower resembled a pilot badge and decided to create one for the [[Nazgûl]]. The inscription "seen from below" indicates that it depicts a [[fell beast]] as seen from the ground.<ref name="Illustrator" />{{rp|189-90}} No doubt that if that is the case, it would be an extremely stylized portrait. Notice the Eye of Sauron included in the wings in patter.<ref name="Bjorkman"/> This resembles Mordor's [[flies]], which also had it painted on.
|}

===Early locations===
In the early phase of the [[legendarium]] of ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' ([[1916]]-[[1920|20]]), Tolkien made three heraldic devices for towns from England (then the core of his mythology), which he laveled with the title "'''''i·glin grandin a·Dol Erethin Airi'''''" ("the fair towns of Holy [[Tol Eressëa]]"). As noted by the editors, these towns were special for Tolkien and his wife [[Edith Tolkien|Edith]] in those years.<ref name="Erethrin">{{PE|13}}, "[[Heraldic Devices of Tol Erethrin]]"</ref>{{rp|93}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Location!!Notes
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Taurobel.png|150px]]</center>||[[Taurobel]]||Labelled "'''Taurobel'''" below, and "'''Tram ⁘ Nybol'''" above. 

It depicts three trees, probably [[Wikipedia:Populus nigra|Lombardy poplars]], above a three-arched bridge through which three streams flow, with some reeds on the banks. In ''The Book of Lost Tales'', [[Tavrobel]] ("Wood-home") was a town with a bridge crossing across the confluence of two rivers. The label ''[[Tram Nybol]]'' ("?Snowy Bridge") seems to be the bridge's name, although the editors are unsure of its translation.<ref name="Erethrin" />{{rp|94}}

[[Christopher Tolkien]] identified Tavrobel as [[Wikipedia:Great Haywood|Great Haywood]] in [[Wikipedia:Staffordshire|Staffordshire]], where his parents lived soon after their marriage, while his father was still at service.<ref name="Cottage">{{LT1|In}}, p. 25</ref> The bridge of both the devise and the narrative was clearly inspired by the [[Wikipedia:Essex Bridge, Staffordshire|Essex Bridge]] near Great Haywood.<ref>{{LR|A3}}, p. 413</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Cortirion.png|150px]]</center>||[[Cortirion]]||Labelled "'''Cortirion'''" below, "'''Tirin na Gilweth'''" around the middle, and "<s>'''Miril i·durwin'''</s>" at the sides.

It depicts a tall tower with a flag at its top, two trees at is sides (probably [[elms]]) and a shining [[sun]] at its left. Below, a peacock with a star in each side. In ''The Book of Lost Tales'', [[Kortirion]] was the chief city of [[Tol Eressëa]], and its name came from its tower (tall and grey), built by [[Ingil]]. [[Meril-i-Turinqi]] was the queen of the isle, who lived in a [[korin]] of elms.<ref>{{LT1|I}}, pp. 16, 25</ref> As explained by the editors, ''[[Tirin na Gilweth]]'' refers to "Ingil's Tower", and ''Miril i·durwin'' is the [[Gnomish]] name of "Meril the Queen".<ref name="Erethrin" />{{rp|95}} The peacock is clearly reminiscent of the poem ''[[Kortirion among the Trees]]'': "where even now the peacocks pace a stately drill, / majestic, sapphirine, and emerald".<ref>{{LT1|In}}, pp. 33, 36</ref>

Tolkien identified Kortirion with [[Wikipedia:Warwick|Warwick]], where Edith lived from [[1913]] until their marriage in March [[1916]].<ref name="Cottage" />
|-
|<center>[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Celbaros.png|150px]]</center>||[[Celbaros]]||Labelled "'''Celbaros'''". 

It depicts a fountain with high waters. In its left, a mountain tall as a spike, with a sun at the top, and the tag "'''Ranon'''". At the fountain's right, a [[Willows|willow]] with the tag "'''Ecthelin'''". Below, two rings intertwined with the words "'''bod'ominthadriel'''". This is the only device absent in the narratives of Tolkien's mythology. Instead, it is closer to Tolkien's life: ''Ranon'' (maybe related to ''Rân'', the [[Moon]]) and ''Ecthelin'' (probably meaning "Lady of the Fountain") are likely Elvish-rendered versions of Ronald and Edith's names. The two rings and the Gnomish term ''bod'ominthadriel'' (probably meaning "coming together, reunion") suggests the emblem is celebrating Tolkien and Edith's reunion and engagement in [[1913]], after three years of wait. Therefore, the editors identify Celbaros with [[Wikipedia:Cheltenham|Cheltenham]], which is known as a spa-town with many fountains.<ref name="Erethrin" />{{rp|96}}
|}

===Other related drawings by J.R.R. Tolkien===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="150px" heights="150px">
File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Halls of Manwe on the Mountains of the World above Faerie.jpg|A solar emblem appearing in a [[Telerin]] boat in the [[Bay of Eldamar]].
File:J.R.R. Tolkien - The Two Towers.jpg|The Moon of [[Minas Morgul]] and Saruman's '''[[White Hand]]''' in the original cover of ''[[The Two Towers]]''.
File:J.R.R. Tolkien - The Return of the King.jpg|The '''[[Livery of Elendil]]''' in the original cover of ''[[The Return of the King]]''.
File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Crown of Gondor.svg|A detailed depiction of the '''[[Crown of Gondor]]''', which appears in the Lively of Elendil.
</gallery>

==In text==
Apart from those he drew, Tolkien also mentions several designs throughtout the narratives, which are included here with a visual recreation. Notice that here the devices are depicted in a shield for consistency's sake, but in narrative, they are carried in banners, standards, seals, arms, stakes, etc.

===''The Lord of the Rings''===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Holder!!Notes
|-
|<center>[[File:Grond - Royal Banner of Gondor (shield).png|120px]]</center>||[[Anárion]]; [[House of Anárion]]|| '''[[White Tree of Gondor]]'''<br>"''the royal banner had been [[Wikipedia:Sable (heraldry)|sable]], upon which was displayed a white tree in blossom beneath seven stars.''".<ref name="RoyalStewards">{{App|Stewards}}</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Grond - Livery of the Heirs of Elendil (shield).png|120px]]</center>||[[Aragorn]]; [[House of Telcontar]]|| '''[[Livery of the heirs of Elendil]]'''<br>''"There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a [[Crown of Gondor|high crown]] above it"<ref>{{Cite DTP|LR 5.06.062}}</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Pbrks - House of Eorl.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of Eorl]] / [[Rohirrim]]|| The device of the '''[[White Horse]]''' upon Green field was used by the [[Kings of Rohan]]: "''the running horse, white upon green, that was the emblem of the House of Eorl''".<ref>{{TT|III6}}, p. 522</ref> Thus, during the [[War of the Ring]], [[Guthláf]] carried [[Théoden]]'s banner: "''white horse upon a field of green''".<ref>{{RK|V5}}, p. 838</ref><ref>{{RK|V6}}, pp. 839, 847</ref><ref name=Banners>{{RK|V10}}, p. 891</ref> His heir [[Éomer]] will use it also in the times of peace thereafter.<ref>{{App|A2i}}, p. 1071</ref>

However, this device was also used by the people of [[Rohan]], as [[Éowyn]] gave [[Merry]] a shield of the Rohirrim "''and it bore on it the device of the white horse''".<ref>{{RK|V3}}, p. 802</ref> 
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of Dol Amroth.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of Dol Amroth]]|| During the War of the Ring, [[Imrahil]], [[Prince of Dol Amroth]] came with his army "''with gilded banners bearing his token of the Ship and the Silver Swan''".<ref>{{RK|V1}}, p. 771</ref> The Silver Swan could be seen during the following battles.<ref>{{RK|V6}}, p. 843</ref><ref name=Banners/> These symbols were later described as being combined "''silver upon blue, a ship swan-prowed faring on the sea''".<ref>{{RK|VI4}}, p. 953</ref>
As Måns Björkman explains, the [[Swan-ships]] were built by the Elves to depart to the [[Aman|West]], and the [[Elves of Lórien]] used [[Dol Amroth]] to do so.<ref name="Bjorkman"/>
|-
|<center>[[File:Quentandil - Elrond banner.png|120px]]</center>||[[Elrond]]|| [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]] headed Elrond's retinue to Aragorn's wedding with "''a banner of silver''".<ref>{{RK|VI5}}, p. 972</ref> 
As explained by Agnieszka Żurek,<ref>Agnieszka Żurek, "Heraldry in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium", in ''The Coat of Arms: Annual of the Heraldry Society'', [https://www.theheraldrysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Zurek-paper.pdf Number 239] (2022), p. 176</ref> this plain colour could be a reference to [[Vingilot]] (the ship of Elrond's father), which "with silver were her banners sewn".<ref>{{TI|V}}, p. 103</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Quentandil - White Hand device.png|120px]]</center>||[[Orcs of Isengard]] ([[Saruman]]'s Orcs)||'''[[White Hand]]'''. "''Upon their shields they bore a strange device: a small white hand in the centre of a black field''".<ref name=Saruman>{{TT|III1}}, p. 415</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Quentandil - Saruman.png|120px]]</center>||[[Orcs of Isengard]] ([[Saruman]]'s Orcs)||"''on the front of their iron helms was set an S-rune''".<ref name=Saruman/>
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - Minas Morgul.png|120px]]</center>||[[Minas Morgul]]||"''a Moon disfigured with a ghastly face of death'".<ref>{{Cite DTP|LR 6.01.030}}</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Quentandil - Black serpent device.png|120px]]</center>||[[Haradrim]]||The '''[[black serpent]]''' was an emblem of a "''black serpent upon scarlet''" that was depicted on the standard of a chieftain of the [[Haradrim]] during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].<ref name="Battle">{{RK|V6}}, pp. 839-40, 842</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - Stewards of Gondor.png|120px]]</center>||[[Steward of Gondor]]||The stewards had a banner that was "''white without charge''".<ref name="RoyalStewards"/>
|-
|<center><!----></center>||[[Andúril]]||"''a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayed Sun''".<ref>{{Cite DTP|LR 2.03.049}}</ref>
|}

===''Unfinished Tales''===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Holder!!Notes
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Wing.png|120px]]</center>||[[Tuor]]||By command of [[Ulmo]], king [[Turgon]] left in [[Vinyamar]] some arms for his future messenger. "''And Ulmo declared to Turgon of what kind of stature should the helm and mail and sword that he left behind''".<ref>{{S|15}}</ref>

"''Now Tuor loved [[swans]], which he knew on the grey pools of [[Mithrim]]; and the swan moreover had been the token of [[Annael]] and his foster-folk''". So when guided by good omens Tuor reached the abandoned realm, he found the arms and saw that the shield's "''field was blue, in the midst of which was wrought an emblem of a white swan's wing''". Recognizing the token as his own, the took the arms, claiming upon himself the doom they may carry.<ref>{{UT|1}}, pp. 25, 27</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Stewards.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of Húrin]]||When [[Cirion]] sent several messengers to [[Eorl]], they brought with them "''a small stone incised with the seal of the Stewards''",<ref>{{UT|8b}}, p. 297</ref> which consisted of "''the letters '''R · ND · R''' surmounted by three stars, signifying arandur (king's servant), steward''".<ref>{{UT|8e}}, p. 313, note 25</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Quentandil - Elendil.png|120px]]</center>||[[Elendil]]|| The [[Tomb of Elendil]] had engraved simply three letters: ''[[lambë]]'', ''[[ando]]'', ''lambë'':<ref>{{UT|8c}}, p. 304</ref> "''the letters were {{tg|mode=smith|j 2 j}} ('''L · ND · L'''): Elendil's name without vowel-marks, which he used as a badge, and a device upon his seals''".<ref>{{UT|8e}}, p. 316, note 40</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - Armor Emblem.png|120px]]</center>||[[Isildur]]; [[House of Isildur]]||The '''[[Star of Elendil]]''' or '''''Elendilmir''''' was first a Númenórean gem, a "''white star of Elvish crystal upon a fillet of mithril''", that was taken by Isildur "''as the token of royalty in the [[North Kingdom]]''". With Isildur's [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields|death]], the gem was lost and his son [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] was given a replica, and this token was used by the [[kings of Arnor]] and the [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain|Chieftains]] down to [[Aragorn|Elessar]].<ref>{{UT|7}}, p. 277</ref>
|}

===Twelve houses of the Gondothlim===
The array of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]] in the earliest version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' is quite detailed. Some of these folks have their emblems mentioned with capitalized letters (the White Wing, the Stricken Anvil). However, from some of the houses no details about their heraldry is given, but like the others, most probably they had their devices based on their names and reflecting their raiments:
*The [[House of the Pillar|houses of the Pillar]] and [[House of the Tower of Snow|of the Tower of Snow]] were both under the lordship of [[Penlod]], so they probably had similar raiments.
*The [[house of the Tree]] had green raiment.
*The [[people of the Fountain]] were fond of silver and diamonds, and bore pale and bright swords.<ref name="Gondolin">{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

Below there are given the quotes describing the emblems hold by the other houses, keeping some pertinent mentions of their raiments.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:var(--tg-color-surface-3)"
!Emblem!!Holder!!Notes
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the King.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of the King]]||"''Mighty was the array of the house of the King and their colour were white and gold and red, and their emblems the [[moon]] and the [[sun]] and the [[scarlet heart]]''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|172}} [[Turgon]] had taken the scarlet heart as an emblem after rescuing the heart and defiled body of his father [[Nólemë]] during the [[Battle of Unnumbered Tears]].<ref>{{LT1|X}}, p. 241</ref>
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Wing.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of the Wing]]||"''<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Tuor]]'s<nowiki>]</nowiki> mail of silver gleamed; and about him was a press of the stoutest of the folk. Lo! all these wore wings as it were of [[swans]] or [[gulls]] upon their helms, and the emblem of the White Wing was upon their shields''".''<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|172}}''
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Mole.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of the Mole]]||"''...sable was their harness, and they bore no sign or emblem, but their round caps of steel were covered with moleskin''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|172}} "''Now the sign of [[Meglin]] was a sable [[Mole]]''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|165}}
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Swallow.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of the Swallow]]||"''Now the folk of the Swallow bore a fan of feathers on their helms, and they were arrayed in white and dark blue and in purple and black and showed an arrowhead on their shields''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|173}}
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Heavenly Arch.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of the Heavenly Arch]]||"''But they of the Heavenly Arch being a folk of uncounted wealth were arrayed in a glory of colours, and their arms were set with jewels that flamed in light now under the sky. Every shield of that battalion was of the blue of the heavens and its boss a jewel build of seven gems, rubies and amethysts and sapphires, emeralds, chrysoprase, topaz, and amber, but an opal of great size was set in their helms. [[Egalmoth]] was their chieftain, and wore a blue mantle upon which the star were broidered in crystal...''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|173}}
|-
|<center>[[File:House of the Golden Flower.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of the Golden Flower]]||"''[They] bare a [[Wikipedia:Vergina Sun|rayed sun]] upon their shield, and their chief [[Glorfindel]] bare a mantle so broidered in threads of gold that it was diapered with celandine as a field in spring...''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|173}}
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Harp.png|120px]]</center>||[[Host of the Harp]]||"''They were dight with tassels of silver and tassels of gold, and s harp of silver shone in their blazonry upon a field of black; but [[Salgant]] bore one of gold''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|173}}
|-
|<center>[[File:Rondador - House of the Hammer of Wrath.png|120px]]</center>||[[House of the Hammer of Wrath]]||"''The sign of this people was the Stricken Anvil, and a hammer that smiteth sparks about it was set on their shields, and red gold and black iron was their delight''".<ref name="Gondolin" />{{rp|174}}
|}

===Gnomish banners===
In some "[[Prose Fragments Following the Lost Tales]]", Tolkien wrote a short narrative about the coming of the [[Gnomes]] into the [[Great Lands]] (the later [[Return of the Noldor]]), in which their leader and their sons hold several banners:<ref name="Prose">{{SM|P2}}, p. 7</ref>
[[File:Quentandil - Gnome Banners.jpg|250px|left]]
{{blockquote|Now the colours of the Gnomes were gold and white in those ancient days in memory of the [[Two Trees]], but [[Finwë|Gelmir]]'s standard bore upon a silver field with a crown of gold, and each captain had a fair banner; and the sign of [[Golfin]] in those days was upon gold a silver sword, and of [[Delin]] a green beech leaf upon silver diapered with golder flowers, and of [[Lúthien (son of Gelmir)|Lúthien]] a golden swallow that winged through an azure field as it were the sky set with silver stars...}}

The [[sons of Fëanor]] (here unrelated to the royal house) are said to be the ones who wrought the standard and banners, which shore either under the sun, moon, darkness or mist, thanks to their [[Magic|magical]] gems sewed in them.<ref name="Prose" />

In the following versions of the story in both the ''[[Sketch of the Mythology]]'' ([[1926]])<ref>{{SM|2}}, §8, p. 22</ref> and the ''[[Qenta Noldorinwa]]'' ([[1930]]),<ref>{{SM|Q8}}, p. 102</ref> the banners are merely mentioned as being "blue and silver".

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Devices in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]] (2001-3)===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="250px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Isildur mural.jpg|Mural with [[Gil-galad]]'s device in a banner. Art by [[Alan Lee]].
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Flag in Edoras.jpg|Flag of Rohan in [[Edoras]], seen by [[Éowyn]].
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Aragorn's Coronation.jpg|Gondor's device in shields and banners during [[Aragorn]]'s coronation.
</gallery>

==External links==
*[https://www.forodrim.org/gobennas/heraldry/heraldry.htm Emblems and Heraldry] by [[Måns Björkman]]
*[[Wikipedia:Heraldry of Middle-earth|Heraldry of Middle-earth]] on Wikipedia
*"[https://www.academia.edu/4334565 The Eye and the Tree. The Semantics of Middle-earth Heraldry]", by Catalin Hriban. Published in [[Hither Shore 8|''Hither Shore'' 8]] (2011), pp. 198–211.
*"[https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol32/iss1/7/ Tolkien's Devices: The Heraldy of Middle-Earth]", by Jamie McGregor. Published in [[Mythlore 123|''Mythlore'' 123]] (2013), pp. 95–112.
*"[https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol9/iss1/5/ Symbols of Immortality: A Comparison of European and Elvish Heraldry]", by Margaret R. Purdy. Published in [[Mythlore 31|''Mythlore'' 31]] ([[1982]]), pp. 19–22, 36.

*[https://www.deviantart.com/aglargon/gallery/53078221/heraldry-in-tolkien Tolkien's heraldry recreated] by Aglargon
{{references|notes}}
[[Category:Art by J.R.R. Tolkien]]
[[Category:Devices and symbols| ]]