Editing Argent

{{short description|Metal (tincture) of silver in heraldry}}
{{other uses}}
{{refimprove|date = July 2014}}
{{Infobox heraldic tincture
|title                   = Argent
|class                   = Metal
|non-heraldic_equivalent = [[Silver]] or ([[white]])
|hatching                = {{Hatching colors|Argent}}
|hex                     = FFFFFF
|tricking                = a., ar., arg.
|gemstone                = [[Pearl]]
|planet                  = [[Moon]]
|virtue                  = [[Innocence#In relation to knowledge|Innocence]]
}}
In [[heraldry]], '''argent''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑr|dʒ|ən|t}}) is the [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[silver (color)|silver]], and belongs to the class of light [[Tincture (heraldry)|tinctures]] called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as [[white]] and usually considered interchangeable with it. In engravings and line drawings, regions to be tinctured ''argent'' are either left blank, or indicated with the abbreviation '''''ar''.'''

The name derives from [[Latin]] ''argentum'', translated as "[[silver]]" or "white [[metal]]". The word ''argent'' had the same meaning in Old French ''[[blazon]]'', whence it passed into the English language.

In some historical depictions of [[coat of arms|coats of arms]], a kind of silver leaf was applied to those parts of the device that were argent. Over time, the silver content of these depictions has [[tarnish]]ed and darkened. As a result, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish regions that were intended as "argent" from those that were "[[sable (heraldry)|sable]]". This leaves a false impression that the [[rule of tincture]] has been violated in cases where, when applied next to a dark colour, argent now appears to be sable due to [[tarnish]].

==Argent versus white==
[[Arthur Charles Fox-Davies]] argued in his book ''[[The Art of Heraldry]]'' that, though extremely rare, the colour white existed as an independent tincture in heraldry separate from argent. He bases this in part on the "white [[label (heraldry)|label]]s" used to differentiate the arms of members of the [[British royal family]]. However, it has been argued that these could be regarded as "white labels proper", thus rendering white not a heraldic tincture.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Scottish Heraldry Forum Message: Paton - help|url=http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/Forum/ShowMessage.asp?ID=2700|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030910033209/http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/Forum/ShowMessage.asp?ID=2700|archive-date = 2003-09-10|access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref>

==Poetic meaning==
The different tinctures are traditionally associated with particular heavenly bodies, precious stones, virtues, and flowers, although these associations have been mostly disregarded by serious heraldists.<ref name=Oxford>{{cite book|first1= Thomas|last1= Woodcock|author-link1= Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)|first2= John Martin|last2= Robinson|authorlink2= John Martin Robinson|title= The Oxford Guide to Heraldry|location= Oxford|year= 1988|publisher= [[Oxford University Press]]|isbn= 0-19-211658-4|pages=53–54}}</ref> In addition to the metal silver, Argent is associated with:
* Of jewels, the [[pearl]]<ref name=Oxford/> (or sometimes crystal)<ref>{{cite book | last = Elvin | first = Charles Norton | location = London | publisher = Kent | year = 1889 | title = A Dictionary of Heraldry | url = https://archive.org/details/cu31924029796426 | page = 46 }}</ref>
* Of heavenly bodies, the [[Moon]]<ref name=Oxford/>
* Of virtues, [[Innocence#In relation to knowledge|innocence]]<ref name=Oxford/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Blason famille fr Guillemin.svg|Arms of Guillemin family (France)
File:Degerfors vapen.svg|Arms of the municipality of [[Degerfors]], Sweden.
File:Blason famille fr Visdelou.svg|Arms of Visdelou family (France)
File:Blason Le Lagadec.svg|Arms of Le Lagadec family (France)
File:Blason fr famille Jégou.svg|Arms of Jégou family (France)
</gallery>

==References==
{{Wiktionary}}
<references/>

{{Heraldry}}

[[Category:Metals (heraldry)]]
[[Category:Silver]]
[[Category:Shades of white]]