Family Coats of Arms and Crests; individually carved and painted Coats of Arms and Crests by Heraldic sculptor Ian G Brennan.

A small selection of the commissioned Coats of Arms, Royal, Corporate and Family Crests carved and painted by Heraldic Sculptor Ian G Brennan;

Welcome to

This Website outlines the work of the Sculptor and Woodcarver to the British Royal Household

Ian G Brennan; Sculptor to the Most Noble Order of the Garter and Most Honourable Order of the Bath; has been a professional Artist, Woodcarver and Sculptor using a wide variety of different materials, including wood, marble resin, sterling silver and bronze for over thirty years.

Heraldic Sculptor Ian G Brennan has been commissioned to create a wide variety of unique sculptures including many carved and painted Coat of Arms and Crests for Family and Corporate Clients, the Nobility and Royalty from all over the World.

During the past three plus decades Ian GB has created in three dimensions over one hundred and thirty unique heraldic sculptures for the British Royal Household, including a number created directly for The College of Arms in London which is one of the few remaining official heraldic authorities in Europe and is not only the official heraldic authority for England, Wales and Northern Ireland but also much of the Commonwealth including Australia and New Zealand.

These commissioned carved and painted Coats of Arms and Crests have been installed in such diverse places as Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, The College of Arms, Museums, Government Buildings, Company Receptions, Board Rooms, HMS Victory, Cunard Ships, Public Places and both Stately and Private Homes all over the World.

These commissions during the past almost four decades have included creating a wide variety of sculptures for both Private and Corporate clients, along with over one hundred and thirty unique heraldic sculptures for the British Royal Household. These commissions have included creating sculptures for over one hundred Knights, four British Prime Ministers, twenty-eight British and European Kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses, Earls, Lords, an Emperor and over two hundred Ladies and Gentlemen from all over the World.

Examples of Ian’s sculptures can also be found on book and magazine covers and also on a set of Royal Mail Postage Stamps featuring Windsor Castle issued in 2017.

Examples of Ian’s carved wood, marble/resin and bronze Coats of Arms

Arms are custom made to size with the detail upon the shield, also carved in base-relief; not just painted upon the shield and can be finished with either acrylic, enamel paints or stained and polished.

Various Arms and Crests being worked on in Ian’s studio.

Sculptor Ian G Brennan has exhibited his work in such diverse venues as Art Galleries, Museums and during 1990 the Museum Service in England toured a large collection of his sculptures as a 'one man' exhibition to various museums throughout the year.

Ian has also exhibited his work in the Queens Room on the QE2, Burlington House; Home of the Royal Academy of Arts and also within the Historic Royal setting of St George's Chapel and even the dungeons of Windsor Castle, where he has also been invited to give talks about the various aspects of his work. Since 1992 Ian has regularly been invited as a Guest Speaker on-board the QE2 and the three latest Cunard Queens.

St George’s Chapel Windsor – Grand Lobby Queen Victoria – St Paul’s’ Cathedral - The Lady Chapel Westminster Abbey

These webpages include a photographic record of all the carved, painted and gilded Royal Crowns, Coronets and Crests which have been placed in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle and Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey since 1989. Commissioned for the latest Royal Knights, Knight and Ladies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and the most senior Knights Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Using photographs taken many shows how Ian has created a number of these Crowns and Crests transforming often ancient and historic two-dimensional designs into unique three-dimensional carved and painted Heraldic Sculptures.

Please click centre photo to enlarge

The larger version of the Coat of Arms was originally carved in wood and the smaller replica was then cast in bronze - carved and stained lime wood Arms with Supporters - painted lime wood Arms- lime wood and bronze version of Arms without Supporters

( 36 inches high x 30 inches wide ) ( 30 inches high x 26 inches wide ) (18 inches high x 17 inches wide) ( 25 inches high x 16 inches wide )

www.heraldicsculptor.com

For further information please contact Ian GB at ian@iangb.com

Heraldry is often seen as an ancient exciting picture language using stunning images, vibrant design and visual colour, incorporating a glorious mêlée of signs and symbols which are frequently chosen not only to reflect the life but also the career of the person concerned. Although Heraldry is viewed by many today as an ancient art form, its images of Coats of Arms and Crests are as strong and relevant today as they were in the Middle Ages. All over the World Heraldic Arts traditional striking designs of realistic and fanciful creatures are often borrowed and turned into successful Corporate trademarks and modern logos.

Outlined here are some examples of carved and painted Coat of Arms and Crests Ian G Brennan has created during the past thirty-five plus years and although only a selection of these sculptures Ian has created for private clients and particularly the Royal Household are shown on this website, it does however give an idea of the wide variety of unique heraldic sculptures he has been commissioned to create in both bas-relief and three dimensions during this period.

Carved Lime wood painted and gilded Coats of Arms and Crests - In Mediaeval time to identify an individual Knight in full armour riding on Horseback, he would display his unique ‘Crest’ upon his helm and display his Arms upon his shield

In 1989 Heraldic Sculptor Ian G Brennan was officially appointed ‘Sculptor to the Most Noble Order of the Garter and the Most Honourable Order of the Bath’ and since that time Ian spends an average of five months of each year on a wide variety of unique commissions in both wood and bronze for the British Royal Household.

For the past thirty years many of commissions from the Royal Household have included creating carved and painted Coats of Arms in bas-relief and carved and painted Crest in three-dimensions, including all the carved, painted and gilded Crests for the latest Knights of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath which was first established in 1725; along with creating all the Royal Crowns, Coronets and Knights Crests for the latest Ladies and Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter which was first established in 1348. These are two of the oldest and highest Orders of Chivalry in the World and records show that Ian G Brennan has individually created more of these unique sculpted Heraldic achievements than any other person since records began and continues to do so today.

Currently there are over seventy of Ian’s sculptures on public display in the ancient and historic settings of St Paul’s Cathedral, Henry V11 Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel, in Windsor Castle. These Heraldic commissions vary from gilded Crowns and Coronets, to carved and painted Crests and Coats of Arms produced in high bas-relief and three dimensions.

These commissions have included realistic sculptures of animals, birds and the human form along with the more traditional heraldic carvings which include Regal Lions, Royal Unicorns and Mythical Beasts

HM the Queen in procession to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for the instillation of Royal Knights and Knights and Lady Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter

Shown below are a small selection of the 140 sculptures including Coats of Arms, Royal Crowns, Coronets and Crests created by Ian GB which were commissioned by the Royal Household during the past thirty years and many are placed on display in Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

These include creating the bejewelled Crowns for seven British and European Kings and Queens including creating the gilded Crown for Queen Camila. Along with creating a wide variety of unique Crests for Four British Prime Ministers, Twenty-five Princes, Princesses, Earls, Lords, Ladies, and an Emperor. Over thirty of which could be seen placed on both sides of the historic chapels in Westminster Abbey and the medieval chapel St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle where in 2022 HM King Charles 111 made his first Christmas address to the Nation and beyond.

St Georges’ Chapel Windsor. - Christmas 2022

The last of the 138 commissions Ian completed for the royal household during the reign of HM The Queen Elizabeth 11, were the gilded and bejewelled coronet for the Queen Consort for St Georges' Chapel in Windsor Castle and crests of a Golden Eagle in Flight for Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey. Since then, the first commissions completed during the reign of the HM King Charles 111, included a crest of a Dog for Westminster Abbey and a Panther and Mute Swan Crest for Windsor Castle, now placed alongside Ian’s other totally unique Crowns, Coronets and Crest in Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

During 2022 one of the five sculpture commissions from the Royal Household that year was to create the Coronet for The Queen Consort which was then placed in position in St George's Chapel Windsor alongside the Coronet Ian made almost three decades earlier for Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.

During 2023 two of his latest commissions completed that year for the royal household included creating the Crown for Queen Camilla and the Mute Swan Crest for former British Prime Minister, Sir Tony Blair was then placed on display in St George’s Chapel in time for the annual Order of the Garter Service held at Windsor Castle in June, attended by King Charles as the Sovereign and Queen Camila, along with other members of the royal family, Knights of the Garter and invited guests.

The Coronet for The Princess Royal (2022) – The Queen Consort – Queen Camilla Crown 2023

For any enquiries regarding commissioning a Coat of Arms or Crest

please contact Ian GB at ian@heraldicsculptor.com

The Crowns and Crest for King Harold V1 of Norway – Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands -Emperor Akihito of Japan – King Felipe of Spain and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

The carved and gilded Crown for King Felipe V1 of Spain Ian completed twenty-nine years after he produced the Crown for King Felipe’s Father, King Juan Carlos.

It is exceptionally rare since the Order of the Garter’s foundation 1348, for two identical carved, painted and gilded Crowns to be displayed in St George’s Chapel Windsor at the same time. King Juan Carlos Crown was produced by Ian in 1989 along with King Felipe V1 of Spain’s Crown completed and placed in St George’s Chapel during May 2018.

Later that same year Ian was also commissioned to create the Crown for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and was placed in the Chapel in 2019 alongside the Crown Ian produced the King's Mother Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands thirty years earlier.

Knight of the Bath Crests being worked on in Ian’s studio and then being placed in Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey.

During the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the in St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, thirty-two of Ian’s carved painted and gilded Crowns, Coronets and Crests commissioned by the Royal Household were on display either side of the aisle within the Quire of St George’s Chapel.. During the Royal wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Westminster Abbey, thirty-four of Ian’s carved and painted Crests, also commissioned by the Royal Household, were on display in Henry V11 Chapel.

The wide variety of the 137 commissions Ian G Brennan has received from the Royal Household during the past thirty plus years can be well illustrated when during one year alone Ian was commissioned to create more realistic sculptures such as a Knight in Armour on Horseback, a Hawk, Labrador and Mute Swan.

On St George’s Day at Windsor Castle in 2005, Ian was also informed by HM The Queen that HRH Prince William; The Duke of Cambridge, was to become the 1000 Knight of the Garter to hold this the highest order of Chivalry since 1348, Ian was later also commissioned to produce Princess Williams Royal Crest and Sword.

HRH Prince William’s The Duke of Cambridge’s Royal Crest – The Prince’s Crest and Sword in St George's Chapel Windsor – the small red escallop.

HRH Prince William’s Royal Crest and Sword now placed upon the Prince’s helmet in St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle. As the second in line to the British throne; Prince William of Wales like his father the Prince of Wales, also uses a white label of three points but in addition on the lion is a small carved red ‘escallop’ to honour the memory of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. The decision for Prince William to recognise his mother this way is a break with tradition as it is highly unusual for members of the Royal Family to include maternal symbols in their heraldic emblems.

Shown below; Heraldic Artist Ian G Brennan's carved and gilded Royal Crests and Coronet ; The Crests which were commissioned for the most recent Royal Knights to be awarded this the most senior Order of Chivalry, the Most Noble Order of the Garter. These three carved Crests for HM The Queen's sons Prince Andrew, The Duke of York and Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex and the Queen's grandson HRH Prince William, recognises their seniority within the Royal family; joining their mother, The Sovereign HM Queen Elizabeth II, father Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, brother Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and sister Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.

The Royal Crests and Coronet carved by Ian for the HRH The Princess Royal, HRH Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex and HRH Prince Andrew; The Duke of York; The Duke of York’s Royal Crest placed upon his Knights helmet in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

For a panoramic view of many of the Royal Crowns, Coronets and Crests created by Ian G Brennan commissioned for the Royal Knights, Knights and Ladies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle. Please click here.

For the past three decades, as way of a hobby Ian has also been building a collection of over forty totally unique sculptures created from old historic, often iconic British objects and materials which were once discarded or deemed beyond restoration. Object and materials recovered from historic buildings including old oak beams recovered after the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992. The collection also includes sculptures created from materials from HMS Victory, The Royal Yacht Britannia, the Cutty Sark, a classic J Class Yacht, a Rolls Royce, a 1940’s Supermarine Spitfire and even a carving from within a Dinosaur fossil from the Jurassic period found on a beach on the Isle of White.

‘One of the Few’ – for ‘England and Saint George’ - View from the Redoubtable’-Running before the Wind’- 'Fire in the Hall'

‘One of the Few’ A 1940’s Spitfire windscreen set in a frame carved from HMS Victory oak - ‘ England and Saint George’ -carved from within a roof beam removed from the St Georges’ Hall extensively damaged in the Windsor Castle fire. ‘A View from the Redoubtable’ ‘ a scene carved from within one of HMS Victory’s original hull’s oak framing. - Running before the Wind’ carved from original oak timbers removed from HMS Victory. - - ‘Fire in the Hall’ An original wooden shield for a 17th century Knight of the Garter removed from St George’s Hall after the Great Fire at Windsor Castle in 1992.

With everything on line in a digital world, there is value in physical history.
‘The original function for this material has long gone, but its history remains’.

For further information - www.iangb,com

The carved Royal Unicorn sculpture shown in St George's Chapel Windsor and a limited-edition bronze version - 37 inches (94cm) long

A selection of the 127 Crowns, Coronets and Crests carved and painted by Ian G Brennan between 1989 - 2021

for the Royal Knights, Knights and Ladies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter which were placed in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Shown top to bottom – left to right

Sir John Major - HRH The Duke of Cambridge; Prince William - Sir Edmund Hillary

Baroness Margaret Thatcher – The Duke of Devonshire – HM King Harald V of Norway

Lord Butler of Brockwell – His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan – Sir Edward Heath.

Please click to enlarge

The carved Coronet and Crests for a Lady and Knights Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter along with four carved Crests for the most senior Knights Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, in sculptor Ian G Brennan's studio awaiting delivery to Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey. They include the Coronet for Lady Soames, daughter of Sir Winston Churchill and Crests for the former British Prime Minister Sir John Major (Stag) and the former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Bingham of Corhill (Griffin) for further information Garter Crests. Bath Crests.

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A selection of the 127 carved, painted and gilded Crowns, Coronets and Crests placed in St George’s Chapel Windsor and Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey Ian has created during the past thirty years.

Although Sculptor Ian GB specialises in Heraldic sculptures, for other examples of Ian’s

sculptures and commissions. Please click here

The Queen Victoria Crest and modern Cunard Logo commissioned for the Grand Lobby of the new Cunard Liner the Queen Victoria

40 inches wide x 35 inches high -- 40 inches x 58 inches high

For further details and stage photographs showing how both Cunard bas relief sculptures were produced; please click appropriate photographs.

HM The Queen’s Crown and Sir Tony Blair's Mute Swan crest was being worked on alongside other commissions and also alongside one of the locals wildlife which is just one of the joys about living and working alongside a nature reserve for the past fifty years, as there is always constant activity involving the often-curious wildlife who are always welcome to wander around the garden and inside the studio from the forest beyond if they choose to visit and Ian just happen to leave the door open.

On one occasion several years ago a suckling Sow Badger was found at the bottom of the garden trying to hide under our Camellia surrounded by noisy Crows who were far too interested in the badger for our liking. She was semi-conscious, dehydrated, malnourished and in need of urgent assistance which of course Ian gave, all under the watchful gaze of the crows from above as he did so.

Today the sow now named ‘Patch’ is a frequent visitor often along with her family in the studio whilst Ian is working, this time the bas-relief carving of taken from one of Ian’s favourite Turner paintings ‘The Battling Temeraire,’ depicting HMS Temeraire being ignominiously towed away for scrap, a decade or so after the Ship and her heroic crew saved HMS Victory from potential oblivion in 1805 at the height of the Battle of Trafalgar.

The relief carving being carved from an original piece of centuries old Victory oak removed from the orlop deck during the restoration process where centuries earlier Admiral Lord Nelson lay mortally wounded. Once completed the ‘Temeraire Revisited’ bas-relief oak carving will be part of the ‘History in the Making-Spirit of Great Britain’ Collection’ currently being worked on, which are all created from original historic British objects and materials that were there when British history was being made. Along with the centrepiece of the Collection, the 47 inches long Victory Sculpture, ‘Sailing before the Wind’ carved entirely from original oak beams removed from the very ship it replicates and nothing else. Including the carved oak sails, ropes, rigging, pennants, and signal flags displaying Nelson’s famous signal “England Expects that every man will do his duty”.

HMS Victory Sculpture

For further information : please click here.

Sculptor Ian G Brennan - ian@heraldicsculptor.com

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Ian G Brennan – nr Portsmouth - Hampshire. UK. SO31 9GN.

Photographs taken in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle by Ian GB are used with the kind permission of The Deans and Canons of Windsor, permission for further use of these images must be sought from the Chapter Office, The Cloisters, Windsor Castle.

Photographs taken in Henry V11 Chapel Westminster Abbey by Ian GB are used with kind permission of The Dean and Chapter of Westminster, permission for further use of these images must be sought from the Chapter Office, Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean's Yard. London.

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