British Insurance Association

	Institutional Heraldry of the World : United Kingdom England

Official blazon
English	Arms : Quarterly azure and gules, a rose Or. Crest: On a wreath of the colours, A salamander couchant reguardant inflamed proper, banded and ringed azure. Supporters: On either side a lion reguardant Or, armed and langued azure, supporting a staff gules, the truck also Or, flying therefrom a pennon quarterly of the second and of the third, a rose of the last. Motto: Safeguard

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on March 8, 1949.

The quartered shield and pennons are indicative of the four classes of Insurance in which the Association is interested - Fire, Life, Accident and Marine. The rose which stresses the fact that the bearers are entirely British, was brought into English Royal heraldry by Eleanor of Provence, Queen of Henry III (1236).

The salamander in the crest is a usual representation of Fire and Fire Insurance. It is an imaginary animal which is supposed to live in the fire, and at last, by its extreme cold puts out the fire. The Greek derivation is "the man who lives in the chimney or fire." When asbestos was first discovered it was believed to be the wool of this creature. It may be noted that in the Arms the beast is "banded and ringed," thus stressing an important function of the Bearers to hold the "destroyer" in check.

The supporters are symbolic of the protection offered by the Association to its members, and, through them to the insuring British Public. The regardant attitude of them still further emphasises this guardian mien.

The motto "Safeguard" links the Association with the enchained salamander and the watchful lion supporters and thus embodies in complete pictorial and heraldic form the function of the Bearers of these Arms.

Literature: Lawson, 1956