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Icelandic heraldry
Icelandic heraldry belongs to the German-Nordic heraldic tradition, as the heraldry of Iceland has been primarily influenced by the heraldic traditions of Denmark and other Nordic countries. Iceland does not have a strong sense of heraldic tradition, however, because the country lacks a governing body over heraldry to create policy and guide style. For this reason, as well as the island nation's relative isolation from mainland Europe, the heraldic forms and styles found in Iceland are often in sharp contrast to those of other European countries. Thus, Icelandic heraldry has several distinguishing features, including the widespread use of vaguely heraldic landscape-type logos in civic heraldry, the prominence of fish and maritime symbols (e.g. lighthouses), and the peculiar charge of the stockfish (a headless cod, sometimes flattened). Appropriately for a country whose primary export has always been fish, the stockfish crowned with an open crown was even the country's own heraldic symbol from the 1590s up to the 19th century.
As in other Nordic countries, the use of heraldry started with seals in the 13th century. The earliest known use of the seal in Iceland was that of Hrafn Sveinbjarnarson, who died in 1213.[1] In keeping with the German-Nordic tradition, the tinctures (colours) used in Icelandic heraldry include silver, gold, blue, red, black and green.[1] Notably absent are purple and furs, which are notably rare in other Nordic heraldic traditions.(I) Personal coats of arms were rare in medieval Iceland,[1] and these had a distinctive character in comparison to other heraldic traditions, reflective of Iceland's distinctive flora and fauna. No Icelander bears noble arms today, as nobility was abolished in Iceland in 1660.[2] Armigerous Icelanders included recipients of the Grand Cross of the Dannebrog and others eligible for this award.[1] Under the modern republic, there is no regulatory body for the registration of arms, and heraldic designs can only be registered as a logo, not as an actual coat of arms.[2] This means one particular graphic version is registered, while stylistically different designs conforming to the same blazon may be unprotected.