Upper West Side Heraldry

I'll be poking around the neighborhood for more examples of heraldry (and almost heraldry) and will post photos soon.

The Arms of Portugal & a Cement Mixer

Big smile! As I mentioned on Facebook today, I just saw a bright yellow cement mixer with the arms of Portugal painted on its side, driving east on 59th Street in Manhattan. Here is the shield:

Photo by Douglas Kiddie

Here are the full arms:

Thanks to Jorge L. Rivera, III, for supplying this image and the following information:

First documented coat of arms dates from the eleventh century, during the time of Sancho I and Sancho II. That coat showed these same five blue escutcheons charged by silver dots. Ca. 1252, under Alfonso II, the shield was added with the red border and golden castles, as seen here.

From 1385-1816, elements were added until this coat of arms (above) was adopted in 1911. As you can see, it is based on the arms (especially the shield) in use since the eleventh century.

Brilliant Shields in St. Thomas Church

On Monday evening, 11/9, I was honored and pleased to present a program about the 16 heraldic shields that hang in Saint Thomas Church, 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue, Manhattan. They are the shields of America's World War I allies.

Here are a few of them:

Leo Belgicus, the Lion of the Kingdom of Belgium

New Zealand

and one of my favorites,

the Lesser Arms of Imperial Russia

If you would like to see all 16 shields in person, visit St. Thomas Church and look for the World War I Memorial on your left facing the altar, as you enter the church. If you would like more information about specific shields, please email me at mariadering@earthlink.net.

My deepest thanks to Douglas Kiddie for photographing all of the shields so beautifully.

Hanging around South America

Here are the beautiful arms of Rio de Janiero and Buenos Aires. There are several of these paired mosaics on #1 Broadway. More to come soon. For now, enjoy the view!

Photo by Floyd Smith Sanford, III

Down to Montevideo

Here are the arms of the City of Montevideo, Uruguay, as depicted on #1 Broadway

Photograph by Floyd Smith Sanford, III

and on an image I grabbed (with appropriate permissions, of course) from Wikipedia. If anyone has a more traditional rendering, please let me know and I will be happy to post it.


These arms depict "el Cerro" (the hill) with the city's grand fortess and lighthouse. The motto, attributed to Jose Gervasio Artigas, translates as "With liberty I neither offend nor fear."

José Gervasio Artigas Arnal (June 19, 1764 - September 23, 1850) is a important national figure, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan independence." You can read more about the country, its culture, and people at http://www.turismo.gub.uy

What Is It about Lions?

This lion rampant appears on one of the most interesting structures on Riverside Drive, Manhattan: an old horse-watering trough near 77th Street. Perhaps an equine figure would have been more appropriate? But then again, lions seem so much more appealing as evidence of "having arrived" in Manhattan!

Photo by Maria A. Dering

Liverpool Conundrum - Solved!

Heartfelt thanks to heraldist Luc Duerloo of Antwerp (and, frequently, Connecticut) for emailing the answer to my question of July 2 about the Liverpool arms:

"The arms depicted are not quite those of the city (granted in 1797). They are, in fact, the arms of the Church of England bishopric granted in 1882. The blazon reads: argent, an eagle rising sable, beaked and legged and a glory round the head or, holding in the dexter claw an inkhorn proper; a chief per pale azure and gules, charged on the dexter side with an open book or, inscribed in letters sable 'Thy word is truth' and on the sinister side an ancient ship with three masts, sails furled, also or."

It is fantastic that heraldry professionals and lovers of the art communicate across the globe about intriguing puzzles, discoveries, and mysteries. Luc, thank you for your illuminating information. I know that the visitors to this blog will appreciate your knowledge and interest. Luc is a member of a new group on Facebook, New York City Heraldry. If you would like to join the group, log on and search for the group by name or look for me as the Administrator.

A happy Independence Day to all! Stay tuned for a post about an element of Huguenot art that became a defining symbol of the United States.