Are the colours used in heraldry fixed in any way and do they have any particular significance?
A. No. There are no fixed shades in heraldry. The blazon (description) of a coat of Arms provides the colours (tinctures) as Gules (red), Azure (blue), Sable (black), Vert (green), Purpure (purple). There are two metals, namely Or (gold) and Argent (silver). Other colours are called stains and consist of Murrey (mulberry) , Tenne (orange), and Sanguine (blood red). Sometimes other stains are encountered such as Celestial azure (sky blue) and Carnation (‘skin’ tone). It is up to the heraldic artist to decide upon the shade he or she thinks is most appropriate for the whole design.
