Heraldry

The art of heraldry captured my imagination from an early age. I vividly recall my first meaningful encounter with it: a collection of stamps showcasing the official coats of arms from Germany’s sixteen federal states, each one telling its own story through carefully chosen symbols and colors. This lifelong fascination led me to collaborate with Munich-based heraldic artist Ralf Burkert in 2018 to create my personal coat of arms. The design’s official description, known as the blazon, is documented in both German and English:

In German:

“In Blau unter drei goldenen fünfstrahligen Sternen ein silberner Flügel, der in einen Unterarm mit Handschelle und Kette ausläuft, in der Hand drei goldene Weizenähren mit Halm über sich haltend. Auf dem blau-silbern bewulsteten Helm mit rechts blau-silbernen und links blau-goldenen Decken ein naturfarbener Storch, in der erhobenen Rechten drei goldene Weizenähren mit Halm haltend.”

In English:

“Shield: Azure, a wing terminating in a hand Argent holding three wheat stalks fesswise reversed Or, bound at the wrist by a shackle with a broken chain proper, in chief three mullets Or.

Mantling: Azure doubled per pale Or and Argent.

Crest: A stork proper, holding in its dexter talon three wheat stalks Or.”

Since its creation, my coat of arms has been interpreted by various artists, each bringing their own unique perspective while adhering to the blazon’s specifications. One notable rendition is the emblazon created by heraldic artist Vadym Burla, shown below.

© 2023 Vadym Burla. All rights reserved.

In Germany, heraldic tradition takes a more democratic approach. Unlike some countries where heraldry is strictly regulated, Germany allows individuals the freedom to adopt their own coats of arms. Several respected organizations register armorial bearings in and maintain rolls of arms.

As of 7 June 2025, the coat of arms of the Matthiesen family is registered in the Deutsche Wappenrolle, a roll of arms maintained by the German heraldic association HEROLD in Berlin, under the registration number 12327/25. It is published in Volume 82 of the Deutsche Wappenrolle. It may be used by descendants of my great grandfather Christoph Theodor Matthiesen (1883-1956) insofar and as long as they still carry the family name Matthiesen.