To the best of my knowledge, we don't have any Cinderellas in the family, nor am I aware of any aunts or nieces wearing glass slippers or fancy dresses. So, it is difficult to relate this week's theme to my shoebox full of family pictures.
Still, it is an interesting image. It looks like a photoshopped picture avant la lettre of drawn clothing with real human heads on top. It is supposed to have been printed around 1890 which makes it special.
Now, how do I relate this picture to my shoebox? When I looked closer, I saw that some people displayed a (family?) coat of arms on their clothing.
And that reminded me of the coat of arms belonging to my maternal grandmother's family. Grandma's last name is Doelman. Today the literal translation of that name is
goalkeeper. But the family records go back to the 16th century and in those days the word
doelen referred to a shooting range, a place where the local military practised. So it could very well be that Grandma's ancestors were the proprietors of the shooting range. But that is sheer speculation.
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| Coat of arms Doelman |
It is unknown whether the family already had the coat of arms as early as the 16th century. However, elements such as the lion already adorned a Doelman family crest in the late sixteen hundreds.
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Coat of arms belonging to Cornelis
Michielsz Doelman approx. 1566 |
It is a common misunderstanding that having a family crest means that one is of noble descent. In many cases that is correct. But also prominent families high on the social ladder often had one. I assume Grandma's family qualified because they had important positions in the city of Delft. Of one thing I am certain. Although Grandma was fond of fancy dresses, she never wore any glass slippers, not even during the Christmas season.
For more fairy tales please turn to the last
Sepia Saturday of the year 2024.
Excellent take on the prompt to link it to heraldry! And thank you so much for your thoughtful comment on my blog. Happy Holidays and New Year!
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of heraldry is pretty limited but I have read that even in the 21st century people are honored with royal appointments that entitles them to a coat-of-arms. There are a very special officers who are charged with creating a unique heraldic design for each family name. I like that your Doelman man wears a simple practical hat rather than some kind of fancy chapeau with a big plume. Thanks for returning to Sepia Saturday this year, Peter. I always enjoy your witty attention to the little details in old photos. I wish you and your family all the best of Christmas cheer and good luck in the new year.
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