Heraldry

I don't want to make a course on heraldry, first because I don't know enough again the domain, and in second because other more qualified authors wrote enough treated on the subject that can be consulted easily in library (bookcase) or on the "net" or even bought in bookshop. There is only a point that it is necessary to underline:

The Swiss heraldry is very particular and distances itself from the one of the rest of Europe.

Indeed, coat of arms and European blazons always concerned the nobility and reserved for her only. To the inverse, the creation and the bearing of a blazon were always free in Switzerland. It led unfortunately to abuses and there were created for example more family coat of arms in the XXth century than during all previous century. Another difference lies in the fact that the granting of coat of arms has always been reserved to the kings and leaders in the European countries and their authentification the privilege of the Herald of Weapons while in Switzerland there was always and remain a private affair). There is no authority of supervision or recording and the only fact to create, to wear or to raise a blazon confers him a legitimacy. Only the cantonal and municipal coat of arms is protected and listed duly. The last difference between the Swiss and European heraldry concerns the blasonnement. There is a profusion of furniture showing instruments or professional tools recalling the membership to such or such corporation of profession or other furniture that are plant elements, going from the flower of potato to the fir tree passing by gentian or the lily of the valley. This proliferation of furniture prevents a strict respect for the heraldicrules more and more and has during the time brought to an exaggeration of the blasonnement and an overlcharge of coat of arms, having no more relationship with the first destination of the blazons that was the recognition far off troops or other remarkable buildings. A fact has to recover also is that, frequently, several coat of arms for the same family, often associated with the implantation of the branch, or due to the will of one of his members. It is what we are going to verify by looking at our Family.

The coat of arms of the Fischli

The blazon you can admire in the title and all along the pages has been pulled from " Wappenbuch des Landes Glarus", of Ida Tschudi-Schumperlin, Geneva 1937. It has been reproduced of the excerpt in my possession, certified by the seal of the "Head office of Heraldry" that has been transmitted me by my mother. She had ordered it (she doesn't know anymore where) to make press a copper dish to hang on the wall.

The famous parchment from which all began... and the tray that came from it out !

The blasonnement of the ecu settles thus: of mouth two golden lily flowers surmounted by a swimming silverfish. On this one is put a helmet accompanied by valances. The crest is composed of a valet dressed in mouth with collar of silver, holding in the right hand a golden lily flower and in the left a silverfish. The link between the fish and the surname seems to be obvious. On the other hand the origin of the two lily flowers (calling back the kings of France) is even dark. This more if one accept the Swiss oriental origins of the family, in a region under the authority of the Princes of Austria whose eagle is their emblem. One of the possible explanations is that many mercenaries introduced lily flowers into their blazon to recall their service by the king of France. On the other hand, in spite of the presence of a helmet translating a certain nobility or the knighthood, the crest seems, with the valet, to indicate us a rank corresponding rather to the bourgeoisie. I look forward to find an indication that will be able to explain me all it.

In the course of my researches, in addition to find finally the book of Ida Tschudi-Schumperlin, I discovered some others of which "Heraldica Helvetica", of François J. Rappard. Together we can gather not less than 7 different blazons following the place where lives the concerned branch.

Unless having precise and original documents mentioning the "official" blazon of the branch, the choice is left free.