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Hello,

I have several pieces of French silver that I inherited from my grandmother. They have three different family crests and we understand that she was a Viscountess (de Bonneault I think is the family name, from the Amiens region. We've managed to trace the family back to the Crusades). Any help unravelling the mystery of the different crests would be really appreciated!



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Thank you.

Sarah

I believe the crest with the three boar's heads is Scottish and belongs to the Gordon clan

This is not Commonwealth usage; nine spikes(pearls) = count in France
Better try to read the motto in the coat of arms - sometimes it is more helpful than the picture.

The main field of arms is also used by some branches of the Barton family - who are notable wine producers in Bordeaux.

The coat of arms of three boars’ heads is common enough, as the other writers have given a few UK examples. Scottish clan arms don’t normally have supporters. However, these arms appear to be French, as pointed out by evidence of it being French sterling, and the nine pearl coronet of a French count (Comté). I also notice that hanging beneath the arms are two medals. It seems the armiger has earned the Légion d'honneur and the Croix de Guerre. So this would have been engraved after 1915. Unfortunately there are no clues as to the color of the shield or boars’ heads. This is also a popular coat of arms in France in many color combinations. For my research I blazoned it as: Trois hures de sanglier. I would welcome information from those who are more familiar with French heraldry.