mantling

In heraldry, the mantling (or lambrequin) is a decorative cloth element that hangs from the helmet. It was originally functional, shielding the wearer from the sun and deflecting sword cuts. The mantling is typically painted with the main color of the coat of arms, with its lining in the main metal. Elaborate mantles are used for royalty. Over time, especially from the 17th to 19th centuries, the mantling's design became exaggerated, resembling seaweed, but modern artists have returned to more classical styles. The term "mantling" can also refer to the act of surrounding or covering something closely, like fog covering fields.123