Description of the Hibbert Coat of Arms

It is widely believed that a coat of arms applies to a family and its descendants, but this is not technically true as a a coat of arms are granted to an individual rather than a family.
The pictures above illustrate the coat of arms belonging to the merchant Robert Hibbert.

Click on one of these links for an explanation of the Arms, Crest or Motto.

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***     Arms     ***

Ermine on a bend sable, three crescent argent

Explanation and symbolic meaning

Ermine

Represents ermine tails in black on silver or white. One of the eight furs in heraldry, and derived from the robes of office and rich apparel worn by royalty, nobility and gentry.

Bend

(fr. bande): the bend dexter is perhaps one of the most frequently used of Ordinaries, being a straight piece extending from the dexter corner to the opposite edge of the shield. It is said to derive its origin from the belt, baudrick or baldrick(Baltheus, Cingulum militare), which was once a mark of knighthood; other heralds, however, have seen in it the idea of a scaling-ladder.
(Ordinaries are certain charges in common use in arms, and in their simple forms are bounded by straight lines, so that they may well be supposed to have had their origin in the bars of wood or iron of different shapes used for fastening together or strengthening the portions of which the Shield might be composed. Their number has never been precisely agreed upon, but most heralds reckon nine principal ones which they call honourable, namely, the cross, the chief, the pale, the bend, the bend sinister, the fesse, the bar, the saltire, and the chevron.)

Sable

Black, heraldic colour for constancy

Three

A number frequently met with in heraldry and by ancient authority said to represent the concept of the Trinity. Heraldry had its rise coincidentally with the crusades and a religious association has the merit of historical probability.

Crescent

The prevailing badge among the followers of Mohamet as were crosses among Christians. This ensign was assumed in armoury as a general emblem of victory over the Saracens

Argent

Silver colour denoting peace and sincerity

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***     Helm     ***

The Esquire's Helm, as depicted in family arms, is always with closed visor and facing to the left.
One must always remember that as you view arms or devices in heraldry most elements are facing the left but are regarded as to the dexter or right side of the arms. As on the stage, where 'stage-left' is viewed as the 'right' side of the stage if one was seated in the audience, heraldry is based on the same perspective. In other words, if a device is described as 'sinister', it faces the right side of the shield as we view it. Many a layman or commercial artist has wrongly drawn an arms in 'sinister' not understanding the mistake they have made.

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***     Crest     ***

An arm erect couped below the elbow, vested azure, cuff ermine, hand proper grasping a crescent argent rising above water

Explanation and symbolic meaning

Couped

Cut off sharply as with a knife

Vested azure

In a blue sleeve. Blue denotes loyalty and truth

Ermine

Represents ermine tails in black on silver or white. One of the eight furs in heraldry, and derived from the robes of office and rich apparel worn by royalty, nobility and gentry.

Proper

In natural colours

Crescent

The prevailing badge among the followers of Mohamet as were crosses among Christians. This ensign was assumed in armoury as a general emblem of victory over the Saracens

Argent

Silver colour denoting peace and sincerity

Water

Indicating Robert Hibbert's connections with the maritime trade

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***     Motto     ***

Fidem rectumque colendo which translates as "Cultivating fidelity and rectitude"

Meaning

Fidelity

Fidelity \Fi*del"i*ty\, n. [L. fidelitas: cf. F. fid['e]lit['e]. See Fealty.]
Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty, or discharge of obligations. Especially:
(a) Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty.
(b) Adherence to truth; veracity; honesty.

Rectitude

Rectitude \Rec"ti*tude\ (r?k"t?*t?d), n. [L. rectitudo, fr. rectus right, straight: cf. F. rectitude. See Right.]
(a) Straightness.
(b) Rightness of principle or practice; exact conformity to truth, or to the rules prescribed for moral conduct, either by divine or human laws; uprightness of mind; uprightness; integrity; honesty; justice.
(c) Right judgment.

Heraldic descriptions courtesy of Heralds Net