Rule of tincture

[1] Heraldic furs such as ermine and vair, and charges described as "proper", are generally exempt from the rule of tincture.

This practical limitation of the early medieval period was misinterpreted three centuries later as the so-called rule of tincture.

Regardless, by the late 17th century the rule of tincture had gained a foothold in many countries, and was proving particularly popular in Great Britain and France.

Fox-Davies wrote that, "A lion rampant and any other beast of prey is usually represented in heraldry with the tongue and claws of a different colour from the animal.

[4] Another violation which is usually not worried about is a green mount on a blue field representing the sky, and some of the methods of depicting the sea, waves or the like are similarly treated.

In this case the field is gules (red); the rule of tincture should therefore exclude this use of a vert (green) trimount.

However, it has been argued by some that the mount vert or trimount issues from the base of the shield rather than being a charge on it, causing the rule not to apply.

Similarly, a baronet is entitled to display a canton or inescutcheon argent charged with a hand couped gules regardless if such a mark violates the tincture rule.

The coat of arms appearing on the famous tapestry of The Lady and the Unicorn (Paris, c.1500)[11] was attributed until now by specialistes to the older branch and to the chief of the family Le Viste, Jean IV Le Viste, but it blatantly breaks the rules of French Heraldry.

[12] In French heraldry, the term cousu ("sewn") is sometimes in blazon used to get around what would otherwise be a violation of the rule; though this is used generally, occasionally a distinction is drawn between the cousu of colour on colour and the soudé ("soldered") of metal on metal, though this has fallen from fashion to a large degree.