chapeau
heraldry
Also known as: cap of maintenance
Quick Summary
In heraldry, a chapeau, also known as a cap of maintenance, is a cap with a fur lining that is sometimes used instead of a wreath to support a crest. It was historically worn as a symbol of office or high rank and is still used in modified forms in British royal regalia. The chapeau can indicate the rank of a feudal baron in Scotland. It is one of the components placed on top of the shield, atop the helmet, to which the crest is fastened.123
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