Funerary hatchment

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A funerary hatchment is a depiction within a black lozenge-shaped frame, generally on a black (sable) background, of a deceased's heraldic achievement, that is to say the escutcheon showing the arms, together with the crest and supporters of his family or person. Regimental Colours and other military or naval emblems are sometimes placed behind the arms of military or naval officers. Such funerary hatchments would therefore generally be restricted in use to members of the nobility or armigerous gentry, and were hung on the wall of a deceased person's house. They were later transferred to the parish church, often within the family chapel therein which appertained to the manor house; the lord of the manor usually held the advowson of the church. In Germany, the approximate equivalent is a Totenschild, literally "shield of the dead".