^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Ugljevik (Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

by Ivan Sarajcic, 14 Febuary 2003

See also:

Banner of arms of municipality of Ugljevik in Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ivan Sarajcic, 14 Febuary 2003

The way the diamonds are shown "in three dimension" on the flag by using three different shades of blue is extremely elegant, but is it "heraldically correct"?
I believe that, at least in western heraldry, the shade of the metals is not specified and does not matter. So how would the diamonds be blazoned?
Ivan Sache, 14 Febuary 2003

The article signed by D. Acovic appears on page 1 in the number 7, July 2001 of Glasnik SHD (Sreb Heraldic Society Gazette). Summarizing: On 27-July-2001 Municipal Aseembly adoptede the CoA: divided per saltire: first or a winged bull gules, second vert an oak branch per pale or, third vert a plum branch or per pale, fourth sable two hammers argent in saltire. The bull of St. Luke symbolize the Monastery of Teochak in the vicinity. The name Ugljevik might be translated as "Place of the Coal", green and black in the CoA is reminding to minoer's too. The greater CoA includes compartment of green field withen mine entrance and two supporters, dexter a folk bard (Filip Višnjić) holding the Serb tricolour and sinister a minoer in ceremonial uniform, holding the flag of Ugljevik.
The flag of Ugljevik is one of the rare examples in the modern Serb heraldry that is not based on the coat of arms and that includes entirely different elements: White a fess wavy azure between three diamonds sable. The wavy stripe is standing for local river Janja. The black diamonds are said to be standard heraldical symbols for coal wealth. They are indeed shown as faceted, but unlike the Ivan's image shou, they should be black (or rather gray of several shades to hint the three-dimensionality).
Zeljko Heimer, 15 Febuary 2003

Ivan Sache asked whether the use of three different shades of blue is heraldically correct. Without having seen the illustration I cannot give an entirely informed comment, but I can say that the heraldic tradition permits the use of artistic devices that enable one to perceive textures or outlines. If the shades of blue give the impression of the shape of these "diamonds"
(whether gemstones or simply heraldic lozenges), they are within the tradition. This does not prevent an artist drawing the same arms from using just a single shade. But with a flag it is probably something fixed, and would then cross the line from heraldry to vexillology.
Mike Oettle, 17 Febuary 2003