New logo in an ancient heraldic style

I have overheard various people, in a variety of languages, talking down on the street about our new logo coat-of-arms that Francesco and I devised and that is now displayed on a painted ceramic plaque on the weathered stonewall outside our front door.

The plaque was painted and fired in Todi by an artist friend of Francesco’s named Orietta Giammarroni from a stencil sketch we got to her at her little jewelery and ceramics shop there. 

(http://www.todiguide.com/en/luca-and-elisa/blog-guida-turistica-dellumbria/item/15-la-bottega-magica-maioliche-le-muse.html)

It is rewarding to me, a lifelong hobbyist in heraldry, to hear able recitations of the design elements and historic background of each part of the motif. I am especially happy when I hear parents relating these to their children. There are five components, each representing the mascots and namesakes of our five rental suites.

At the top of the shield in gold on red, La Salamandre – the official heraldic symbol of Sarlat granted by the king of France at the close of the 100 Years War. This replaced the plain letter ‘S’ on the town’s coat-of-arms and honored the city folk for their stalwart and unswerving loyalty to the French crown during that long struggle against the English (1337-1453). The so-called ‘fire salamander’ was often found lurking, still alive, in the ashes of burned logs and became synonymous with lack of fear and its imperviousness to danger.

In the top left corner of the lower four spaces is Le Griffon, gold on blue and red, the mythical beast that is part lion and part eagle. We display it rampant, or in a fighting stance as it was a symbol of manly battle against evil, warding off foes foolhardy enough to approach one’s sacred family hearth.

Next to it, white on blue, is peaceful Le Caladrius, a wondrous bird said only to dwell in royal households where it served its monarch by purging, through its flight, all troubles, vexations, and ill health.

On the left of the lower tier, also white on blue, is beautiful La Licorne, the fabled unicorn of the middle ages. This endearing creature gently protected girlhood innocence but could, rearing into righteous anger, spear away un-wanted advances and uncouth suitors.

Lastly is majestic Le Phenix, dating back to Greek myth, the miraculous bird arising from the ashes and symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings.

The whole design is surrounded by a white leather strapping embossed with the business name Les Suites Sarladaises. In ancient times, this heraldic motif - drawn from the trappings of a knight's horse - was often used for family mottos or to record membership in honorary orders of chivalry.