|
Heraldic
Artist: Michael
Y. Medvedev.
The silver lion is
derived from the arms of
O[u]chterlony, an extant
Scottish family and clan
related to the armiger’s
lineage. The lion
resembles an Asian bars
or snow leopard (Uncia
uncia) and his
appearance emphasizes
the armiger’s mixed
origin, including
ancestors from the
Ottoman Empire.
The
lekawica, a piece
specific for the
Polish-Lithuanian
heraldic traditions,
corresponds both to the
Polish roots and the
Polish residence of the
armiger. The composed
structure of this piece
echoes the brick-making
company formerly held by
the armiger’s ancestors,
the Shmelyovs, a
well-known merchant
family of Moscow. The
upper part of the shield
is occupied by a
conventional
representation of a
solar eclipse, which
represents a balance of
light and shade, and
reminds of the ephemeral
nature of any darkness.
In addition, a
particular day of a
total solar eclipse has
been life changing for
the armiger.
The
lion appears again in
the crest, combined with
a haloed cross of a
slightly unusual form,
intended to reflect the
ecumenical religious and
cultural aspirations.
The horns form a
traditional continental
crest adornment.
Through
the Lady Ruperta’s
daughter the armiger is
distantly related to
Prince Rupert of the
Rhine. Hence, the silver
and blue lozenge motif
as well as the general
composition of the
crest.
|
