Heraldry on Surcoat

[DEL]

Looking at the heraldry on the Nutsplanet new Teutonic Knight bust the box art painter appears to have intentionally represented it as painted on the surcoat.
I have always assumed that it would be embroidered and have tried to represent it as such on models.
The question is, with complex heraldry such as that of a Teutonic Grand Master would it be embroidered or painted?
Derek

 

[renarts]

It could be embroidered, painted or woven. Several rolls books entries show expenditures for embroidery shops, and textile manufacturing houses to create heraldic garments. A grand master would certainly have an embroidered or appliqued heraldic design on his surcoat. While livery troops may have something as simple as a stenciled design.

 

[DEL]

Thanks Mike, pretty much as I thought. I can see the logic of an appliqued design if you could afford it, relatively easy to repair or replace in whole or part.
If anything it would look more impressive than an embroidered version of the same design.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Mirofsoft]

Well for the poor, no embroidery, a simple cross cut in a black ( or .. ) fabric, and knited on the tunic

 

[Helm]

Like Mike said it would be a question of money rather than ability, a lot of the late Medieval/Renaissance equipment we have today is heavily padded/Applique work and is obviously more the higher end of the scale
Steve

 

[Helm]

Just a further although a modern reproduction it is modeled on the original

 

[DEL]

I posed the question really to see if painted (stencilled) heraldry would be used on a high status Teutonic Knight given the way the box art was painted on the Nutsplanet bust. I would imagine that a lot of contemporary information might be open to interpretation insofar as embroidery and applique and indeed stencilled, padded and sticthed images might be one in the same.
I can see the attraction of an appliqued and padded image on the chest of a surcoat, it could provide an additional level of protection, a bit like an Aketon.
Derek

 

[Helm]

Totally agree Del and as well it would look more opulent 15th Cent bling as it were I would imagine the ordinary work day stuff was far more utilitarian. That said I would be very surprised if they could paint cloth as well as the Nuts Planet guy due to the limitations of the materials
Steve

 

[Helm]

Del found this link which may be of interest to you http://www.pinterest.com/ladyshadow64/ritrovamenti-originali-original-medieval-clothes-a/
This particular seems to fit the bill
Steve
An embroidered and appliqued heraldic textile at the German National Museum in Nuremberg, Germany. This is an example of a medieval original textile of unknown origin

 

[DEL]

Thanks for this and the link Steve.
Can clearly see the stiched decoration the garment, I'm guessing there's a liner layer that gives the pattern a light quilted effect when stiched.
The appliqued eagle appears to be stiched on along the edges and then the feathers created by stitching through to the main garment.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Helm]

Glad to help Del
Steve