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COAT OF ARMS
CREST
Silverware is often decorated with heraldic motifs.
Coat of Arms is a heraldic emblem that shows the
bearings of devices of a family or the branches of a family.
Usually it is engraved on the silverware, often on an escutcheon.
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The crest is a less expensive heraldic device inscribed in silverware to indicate ownership and may be common
to more than one family.
The 'line' on the bottom is called a 'torse', or 'a wreath of colours' and in heraldic terms represents the twisted cloth which disguised the join between the crest and the helm. Usually in the two main colours of the arms.
No-one is entitled to use a crest in UK unless relevant authority confirms it (Lord Lyon in Scotland). For UK, Scots, English, Irish or Nova Scotian arms, no-one has a crest unless they have coat of arms (though some people have coat of arms without a crest).
Although rules of inheritance are different for crests than main arms, each crest is unique to a family line - to establish right to an existing crest you have to prove relevant relationship. Anyone of good character who can prove UK citizenship, or descent from a British or Empire subject can obtain arms (that's a large group!). The definition of good character is very broad! (information courtesy Chris Donovan)
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