Coat of Arms of Brittany c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have Clément Pierre Marillier's "Coat of Arms of Brittany." Editor: It's intricate! The cross patterns on the shield and the skeletal details give it a dark, decorative feel. Curator: Indeed. Marillier, who lived from 1740 to 1808, created this as an engraving. Notice the Breton ermine spots densely populating the shield. Editor: The material details really grab me – from the crown to the skull, and even the snakes entwined around what appear to be cannons. What was the purpose of this piece? Curator: Coats of arms like this were often commissioned or created to assert political or social status. The symbols carry meanings tied to the history and aspirations of Brittany. Editor: So, it’s not just decoration; it's a constructed object embedded in a specific social framework. Fascinating how these visual elements communicated power. Curator: Precisely. It offers a lens into understanding the symbolic language of power during Marillier's time. Editor: It makes you think about how the materials and labor invested in such an object amplified its message. Quite a potent little image.