Noble Houses and Unique Decor

(Year 226) Several of my many noble houses can trace their backstory for more than 200 years. Not only do I know their ancestors, but also what titles they had at a given time. Houses that held a peerage, would also collect unique décor, such as banners, portraits and miscellaneous items with the sovereign's Coat of Arms or monogram - custom content that I created over time.

I try to keep track on these heirlooms, as some still have a prominent disposure in a proper palace or other grandiose estate, while others were inherited by no-longer-so-noble branches of the family, were sold or stolen - or got lost in fires and what not. I need to know who owned what and how many. It's family history, but it also tells the story of a community. In the Community section of this site you can check belongings of all Houses.

In this post I share some info on recolors I made for some of my top nobility houses. I'll not include downloads, but if you think you can  make good use of some of these recolors, leave a note and I might share a file or two.

Old Banner
From the very beginning all noble houses were committed to war duties, and they had to bring a set of two simple, vertical fabric banners to the battle fields. The banners were crafted in the main color of the house they represented, and with the peerage's symbol centered (sovereign's Coat of Arms).

From left: House von Heimlich, House of Ross, House of Saxor, House de Cavalier.

These simple banners were in use from Year 2 to Year 120. Today most are lost, and only the four dukedoms can still show off their old battle banners: Heimlich (dated Year 118), Ross (Y116), Saxor (Y113) and Cavalier (Y117). These items are valuable due to their old age, despite their poor quality.

Property of House: House of Heimlich (2), House of Ross (2), House of Saxor (2) and House de Cavalier (2).

The Shrubbery Tapestry

Year 100 the King instructed all dukedoms to craft a bigger lead war banner, and the shrubbery tapestry was invented. At this time all dukes, with no exception, lead a military career. The tapestry was used at wars, but historians tell us that these quite elegant banners were used only for 10-20 years. Because they reflected the dukes' narrative of being elegant and extravagant, the tapestries were too big and too heavy. The older banners were more convenient as they were small and also cheaper to repair or replicate.

From left: House von Heimlich (missing*), House of Ross, House of Saxor, House de Cavalier.

When these items were no longer used at battles, they could be seen fronting parades on memorial day or major funerals and investitures. They were also seen at military tribute marches.

Today most dukedoms display their Shrubby Tapestry in their hall or ballroom, and the items are considered property of the peerage Trust. It means that if a new house claims the peerage, they will also get the tapestry.

Property of peerage Trust: Windenburg Trust (1 missing*), Rossie Trust (1), Meadows Trust (1), and Cavalier Trust (1).

Coronation Crown and Ring
My four dukedoms have a Crown and a Ring sprung from the royal coronation routine. Both were gifted by the King as the first duke of the peerage attended the royal castle for his investiture. Originally the ring was meant as the duke's private asset, but over time both items became property of the peerage Trust.

In Region 12 and beyond the dukedoms of Windenburg (Y2), Rossie (Y2) and Meadows (Y5) have similar rings but with their own signature colors, while Cavalier came much later (Y98) and got a ring of totally different design. All four dukedoms have similar crowns, again with gems of their signature color. Each item is worth minimum §10.000.

Property of peerage Trust.
Owners: Windenburg Trust, Rossie Trust, Meadows Trust, and Cavalier Trust.

The Royal Book of Nobility
Each of the four dukedoms have their unique version of the antique Royal Book of Nobility. Visually they have each their Coat of Arms printed, but the content is the same covering history, traditions and manners suited for a high nobility household.

From left: House von Heimlich (missing), House of Ross, House of Saxor, House de Cavalier.

The books are all dated to Year 114 and are seen as outdated, although many traditions did not change to this day. They are typically put on display in the sovereign's office, although the paper is too fragile for turning the pages. Because of the poor condition these items have little to no money value.

Property of House: House of Heimlich (1 missing*), House of Ross (1), House of Saxor (1) and House de Cavalier (1).

Dukedom Flags
These three Coat of Arms flags symbolize the continuance and balance throughout generations. The first flag represents the peerage's very first duke and will therefore never change, the second flag represents the current Royal, and the third flag represents the current duke. One single flag is replaced as required, meaning there will never exist older complete sets.

From left: House of Ross, House de Cavalier, House von Heimlich.

Each dukedom has 2 sets. These flags were never brought to the battles, but were used to decorate the dukedom's estate while the sovereign was at home. The tradition can be traced back to Year 42 (Windenburg and Rossie), and is still maintained by all four dukedoms of Region 12 and beyond. Today the flags are crafted from synthetic material and has no money value.

Above illustration shows that the Ross flags (left) are breaking the old rule, as their current Coat of Arms should include a golden Capricorn, not silver - indicating that the picture is old. The centered set shows how House de Cavalier changed their Coat of Arms from the first to the current duke, and how House von Heimlich (right) never changed their Coat of Arms.

Property of peerage Trust and is normally kept with the main estate.
Owners: Windenburg Trust (2), Rossie Trust (2), Meadows Trust (2) and Cavalier Trust (2).

Noble Rocking Chair
At some point Duke von Windenburg and Duke of Rossie must have either agreed on commissioning similar rocking chairs with their monogram, or the chair crafter himself initiated a gift or sale involving both houses. All we can say for sure is that these unique rocking chairs are dated to Year 124, and that both dukedoms got two copies each.

This item was only crafted for House of Ross (left) and House von Heimlich (missing*). 

The Windenburg chairs seem lost, but Duke of Rossie still have two chairs, where of one has been in the Granny Lounge at Rossie Palace for as long as the current Duke can recall.

Property of the House, still functional but of no big value.
Owners: House of Ross (2), House of Heimlich (2 missing*).

Painted Portraits
All high nobility Houses have a big collection of older painted portraits. It is basically the Coronation Portraits that is of interest to the formal history, and they are also the only paintings that are considered property of the peerage Trust. These are still being painted whenever there is a new sovereign.

From left: Duke Gustav von Windenburg, Duke Reinart of Rossie,
Duke Victor of Meadows and Duke Leopold de Cavalier.

In the beginning there was no established Coronation Portrait routine, and the oldest portrait we know shows the first Duke of Rossie, Schubret Ross.

Low nobility never have a peerage Trust, so their investiture painting or photo will simply be property of the House. This also goes for Military Portraits and Wedding paintings/photos, and also teen photos.

The Region 12 Council is currently starting a huge project trying to register all old paintings - more info to be posted soon.

Property of peerage Trust or House. Older works have an additional collector value of around §10 000.

Mister and Missus Portraits
The better situated Houses started a tradition of the Mister & Missus Portraits, also known as Bedside Portraits. This was their way to copy the dukedoms' routine, and to show off the head couple of the house, regardless of holding a peerage or not. Some high nobility barons joined the tradition, but dukes never adapted this routine which was also open to commoners.

The backdrop of the portraits indicates who were couples. Finer houses (high nobility) used painted backdrop,
while others had a solid color. Only certified photographers were allowed to produce these.

Read more about this tradition here.

Property of House. Portraits normally stay in the house where the pictured person lived, regardless of head of House switching households.

Modern Coat of Arms Banner
These nifty synthetic banners have been produced since Year 150, first on canvas and now on synthetic fibers. Whenever there is a new sovereign of a high nobility peerage, a set of four banners showing the sovereign's Coat of Arms can be ordered for decorating purposes. If the new sovereign keep the former Coat of Arms, the old set can of course still be used. Otherwise it is seen as tradition to destroy the old set in order to avoid misunderstandings.

From left: House von Heimlich (Windenburg), House of Ross (Rossie), House of Saxor (Meadows,
San Myshuno). Ross and Saxor both have golden symbold today, but for some reason they simply
kept the old version of these decor banners.

Because the banners are synthetic, they are often used outdoors for special festivities, but most houses keep them on display in the hall or in their office/library.

Property of House. No particular value.

*) Following the attempted murder of Duke Merlin von Windenburg (Year 190), the Villareal couple sold off some of the old heirlooms before National Museum confiscated what was left. Therefore some old items are still missing, but hopefully they will show up some day...