Fur (heraldry)

In heraldry a **fur** is a pattern originally based on animal furs. The most famous fur is Ermine.
## Ermine
Ermine is a fur based on the fur of the Ermine. 
It is the most common Fur in heraldry
Ermine_fur_петар_први.jpg|Ermine fur, from the robes of Peter I of Serbia
File:Ermine_shield.svg|Ermine
File:Shield_ermines.svg|Ermines (counter-ermine)
File:Shield_erminois.svg|Erminois
File:Field_pean.svg|Pean
File:Shield_gules_ermined_argent.svg|Gules ermined argent

## Vair
**Vair** is a fur that is normally an angular blue () and white () pattern in heraldry. It is based on the Eurasian red squirrel.
File:Eichhörnchen_Düsseldorf_Hofgarten_edit.jpg|Eurasian red squirrel  () 
File:Russian_squirrel_belly_skins.jpg|Squirrel bellies on a rack
File:Forro_-_vero_antiguo.svg| the old curvy version
File:Vair_plain_(accurate).svg| the modern version

### Variants 

File:Coa_England_Family_Beauchamp_of_Hatch.svg| inverted
File:WinchesterGreatHall_Glass4.JPG|Vair inverted from the Tichborne arms in Winchester Castle
File:Tichborne_arms,_St_Andrew's_Church.jpg|The same arms at St Andrew's, Tichborne
File:Jane_Seymour_coat_of_arms_Hampton_Cour_Palace.jpg|Coat of arms of Jane Seymour at Hampton Court Palace
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_or_and_azure.svg|Vairy or and azure
File:Blazon_of_Gresley_Baronets_of_Nether_Seale_(1611).svg|Vairy ermine and gules
File:Vaire_colours_3.svg|Checked vairy
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_counter.svg|alt=Counter-vair|
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_in_pale_field.svg|alt=Vair in pale|
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_in_bend.svg|Vairy in bend  or and azure 
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_en_pointe.svg|alt=Vair in pointe|
File:Spaltfeh.png|Alternate vair

## Potent  
**Potent** (German: *Sturzkrückenfeh*, meaning "upside-down crutch vair") is a type of heraldic pattern made of T-shaped figures. It is like *vair*, but instead of the usual bell shapes, the design uses T-shapes called *potents* because they look like crutches.

When colours other than silver (*argent*) and blue (*azure*) are used, the pattern is called *potenté* or *potenty* of those colours. Some experts think this pattern started as a result of mistakes when drawing vair, but others believe it is an old and proper form.

A common variation is **counter-potent** or **potent-counter-potent** (German: *Gegensturzkrückenfeh*), which is made like *counter-vair*. Another version is **potent in point** (German: *Verschobenes Gegensturzkrückenfeh*, "displaced counter-potent"). In theory, other forms such as *potent in bend* or *potent of four colours* could also exist.
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_potent.svg|alt=Potent|
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_counter_potent.svg|alt=Counter-potent|
File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_Vairy_cupy.svg|alt=Counter-potenté  gules and or|
File:Skydas_potent_counterpotent.png|alt=Potent in pale|
File:Skydas_potent_potentenpoints.png|alt=Potent in point|

## Rare furs 
Three other rare fur patterns appear in continental heraldry. Their origins are unclear, but they probably developed from variations of *vair* made to look like the fur or skin of other animals.

In **plumeté** or **plumetty**, the pattern is drawn to look like feathers.
In **papelonné** or **papellony**, the pattern is drawn as scales that look like a butterfly’s wings — which is where the name comes from.
In German heraldry, a type called **Kürsch** (meaning "vair bellies") shows the shapes as hairy and brown. The name "vair bellies" is probably not correct, because the belly of a red squirrel is always white, even though its summer coat can be reddish brown.  
File:Blason_de_la_ville_de_Mérignies_(59)_Nord-France.svg|*Plumeté or and sable*
File:Blason_Maison_de_Châteaubriant_(ancien).svg|*Gules, papelonné or*
File:Kursch.gif|alt=Kürsch|

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## References
### Notes
### Citations
### Bibliography
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