Status \ Symbols - The Tudors, Heraldry and Symbols of Privilege

Status symbols are outward signs of success. These vary according to the standards of the society or subculture in which they operate. Whether noble or notorious, signs command respect, cause us to tremble with fear, or simply are a cue to let us know where we fit in. Every culture uses brands, signs and symbols that speak about rank and belonging without the use of spoken or written word.

The new Tudor Garden at Hamilton Gardens will afford us an unusual opportunity to investigate some of the cultural symbols of the Tudor period, notably through heraldry, or coats of arms, that signified markers of nobility, privilege and power.