View source for Coats of Arms

{{Infobox Coat of Arms2
|image=[[File:StemmaMap.jpg|200px]]
|totalnumber=1,061
|totalnumbermissing=12
|purpose=Informative/Decorative}}
'''Coats of Arms''', also known as ''stemmi'' (''stemma'', singular) in Italian, were formerly used to indicate ownership of a building.  They are also a sub-set of [[Material Culture|material culture]].  The wealthier families in the city would often recreate their family crest out of stone, marble, or some other substance, and hang it outside their [[palaces]].  Most coats of arms are symbolic of the  family name in some way.  In the event that a new owner moved into the building, the coat of arms would often be removed or carved off. 
[[Image:figure12_blankstemma.jpg|right|thumb|A blank stemma, the previous family's symbols having been removed when new owners took   possession of  the property]] 
[[Image:figure15_dolfin.jpg |right|thumb|A Dolfin family "talking" stemma, featuring three dolphins.]]

==Types==

===Talking Coats of Arms===
One particular category of  ''stemmi'' is special because of the way it communicates information  about its owner: known as "talking" coats of arms, these ''stemmi'' use  symbols with a pictorial or phonetic reference to the name of the family  being represented. Some of the more obvious examples include the Dolfin  family (a dolphin), the Da Ponte family (a bridge), and the Dalle Rose  family (roses). The Barbarigo family used a beard on their stemmi,  because "''barba''" is Italian for beard. Even more creatively, the  Erizzo family used the letter “E” and a porcupine as their family  symbol, as "''riccio''" is an Italian word for porcupine, or "''rizzo''"  in the [[Venetian language|Venetian dialect]].

==Statistics==
*The [[Stemma: Dorsoduro 562|oldest coat of arms]] is located in Dorsoduro and dates from 1300 AD.
*The [[Stemma: Cannaregio 691|most recent coat of arms]] is located in Cannaregio and dates from 1800 AD.
*The  [[Stemma: Cannaregio 4923|coat of arms in the most need of  restoration]] is located in Cannaregio and dates from 1447 AD.

[[Image:Coatsofarmssestiere.JPG]]

==Damage and Preservation==
For general information pertaining to the sources of damage to Venetian coats of arms, please see the [[Damage to public art]] page.

For general information pertaining to the restoration and preservation of Venetian coats of arms, please see the [[Restoration and preservation of public art]] page.

Specific information regarding the damage and restoration needs of each coat of arms can be found on the pages dedicated to each individual coat of arms, as listed in the map below and in the navigation box under the "See Also" section of this page.

{{Map Coats of Arms}}

==See Also==
{{Coats of ArmsNav}}
{{PublicArtNav}}

==References==
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==Bibliography==
*[[Alberto Rizzi|Rizzi, Alberto. "Scultura Esterna a Venezia." Stamperia di Venezia Editrice, 1987. ]]
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-122610-103308/ 2010 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-122207-150125/ 2008 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-122207-150125/ 2007 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Scanned/00E050I 2000 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]

==External Links==
*[http://www.preservenice.org www.preservenice.org]
*[http://www.venice2point0.org www.venice2point0.org]

[[Category:Coats of Arms]]
[[Category:Public Art]]
[[Category:Material Culture]]