Coats of arms, crests and portraits carved in solid wood

Heraldry was born in the tournaments and battles of the 12th century. Beneath his helm, a knight could not be recognised, so figures and colours were, it is said, painted on his shield to identify him from afar. The word blazon (blason in French) first meant the shield itself, then the art of reading and describing it. Very soon, these arms passed from father to son and became the signature of a lineage. They left the shield to adorn seals, chimneypieces, pediments and woodwork: above a front door, on a trumeau (overmantel panel), on a grand staircase, a carved coat of arms asserts an identity. It is this continuity, from the medieval shield to the walls of today, that each of our pieces carries on.

A family coat of arms rediscovered in an old document, a marriage coat of arms uniting two family lines, the escutcheon of a house or a brotherhood: a wooden coat of arms for the wall gives a symbol a lasting physical form.

A coat of arms carved from the solid has genuine relief: recessed fields, deeply modelled motifs, a crisply cut motto. It is this relief that catches the light and lasts through the years without fading.

Every heraldic project begins on paper. We study your existing arms or draw up a new composition with you: shield, partitions, charges, external ornaments and motto. Once approved, this drawing serves as the basis for the carving.

Next comes the choice of wood, then the carving in our Cornebarrieu workshop, before the finishes that complete the piece: wax, stain, an antique-style patina or touches of colour, applied by hand to suit the character you want.

The same skill applies to the carved wooden portrait: from a photograph, we model a personalised bas-relief (low relief) of a face, a profile, a family scene or an animal. As a carved wooden gift, it is different in nature from an engraved object: a unique workshop piece, conceived by you.

A solid wood coat of arms is straightforward to put up: standard-sized pieces are fixed to the wall with a fixing suited to their weight, and the workshop will gladly give you the information you need to install them.

Indoors, it naturally finds its place wherever the eye comes to rest, for example above a door, in an entrance hall, a library or a stairwell. Outdoors, it is best placed under a porch or on a sheltered façade.

The wood and finish are chosen according to exposure. Tell us about it when you ask for a quote and we will advise you on the most suitable option. As for care, a solid wood coat of arms needs almost nothing: dusting with a soft cloth, and a fresh coat of wax for waxed pieces.

The price depends on the size, the complexity of the design, the wood and the finish. Small medallions offer an entry point, while portraits and full coats of arms are quoted individually after we have studied the drawing or photograph.