Murrey Explained

Murrey
Class:Stain
Non-Heraldic Equivalent:Mulberry, Maroon
Hex:8b004b
Tricking:m., M.
Gemstone:Sardonyx
Planet:Dragon's Tail

In heraldry, murrey is a "stain", i. e. a non-standard tincture, that is a dark reddish purple colour. It is most proximate in appearance to the heraldic tincture of purpure, but is distinct therefrom.

Overview

According to dictionaries, "murrey" is the colour of mulberries, being somewhere between the heraldic tinctures of gules (red) and purpure (purple), and almost maroon;[1] but examples registered in Canada[2] and Scotland[3] display it as a reddish brown.

Poetic meanings

Centuries ago, arms were often described poetically and the tinctures were associated with different gemstones, flowers and heavenly bodies. Murrey usually corresponded to the following:

Examples

The livery colours of the House of York in England in the fifteenth century were azure and murrey, as depicted on the shields of the Falcon of the Plantagenets and the White Lion of Mortimer, which are 2 of the Queen's Beasts.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. . Accessed 14 July 2009.
  2. http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project-pic.asp?ProjectID=97&ProjectElementID=375 Crest of William Dale Murray
  3. Arms of ____ Brown: "Murrey; a chevron between two fleurs de lys in chief and a plough in base, or." Public Register, Volume 71, page 26.
  4. Book: Charles Norton Elvin . London . Kent . 1889 . A Dictionary of Heraldry . 113 .
  5. Elvin, p. 51.
  6. Book: H. Stanford London. The Queen's Beasts. Newman Neame Ltd. 25–33.