I NOSTRI AVI

Please could someone help me? I'm trying to trace this impresa, on a shield carved at the bottom of a 16th century Italian Mannerist walnut picture frame:



If anybody knows which family this belongs to, I should be very grateful to know.

Thank you,

Lynn

Dear Lynn,

It would be nice if you could tell us what colours are: the palm leaf over the gold field (green or black) and the bottom side (Black or Blue).
I'm not using the correct jargon to describe the coat of arms but I don't know how extent is your knowledge of heraldry.

kind regards,

Dear Mont Blanc -

Thank you so much for responding to my post; I do appreciate it.

Unfortunately the colour of the paint used for the stemma has darkened so much over time that it's not possible, without analyzing the chemical make-up of the pigment, to tell whether it was originally black or dark blue. I think that green would probably have been more easily discernible - it would have turned brown, or at least been slightly lighter. If, therefore, there is more than one answer as to the family involved - depending on whether the tree/ sprig of leaves is black or blue (and ditto the lower division of the shield) - then it would be very helpful to learn all the possibilities.

As you see, I know very little about heraldry: I know that the colours are or, argent, azure, gules, vert and - Oh! have forgotten black! - but nothing else. So I'm particularly grateful for your taking the time and trouble to reply to me.

Thank you again, and best wishes,

Lynn