Alfred Znamierowski
Encyclopedia
Alfred Znamierowski, born June, 1940, is a Polish
vexillologist
, heraldist
and journalist. During his career he has published several books and designed hundreds of coats of arms, flags, banners and seals for over 200 different municipalities and institutions.
. In 1965, he left Poland
, and 1966-1978 was an editor of the Polish Service of the Radio Free Europe
in Munich, Germany
. In 1978, he has settled in the United States and founded The Flag Design Center in San Diego, California
. He was also a close co-worker of the German foremost heraldist Ottfried Neubecker
and an American vexillologist Whitney Smith
. Znamierowski made thousands of renditions of coats of arms and flags for their books as well as for numerous encyclopedias in Germany, United States, and Poland. For many years he was the chief artist of the "Flag Bulletin" published by Smith, who called him "the premier vexillological artist in the world".
Alfred Znamierowski is one of the leading figures in vexillology and the world'sforemost flag artist. He began publishing numerous press articles on flags in the 1960s, and during the last 25 years thousands of his illustrations have been published in encyclopedias, books and journals. He has also designed flags and arms for commercial firms and for individuals. He is the founder of the Instytut Heraldyczno-Weksylologiczny (Institute of Heraldry and Vexillology) in his native Poland. Alfred Znamierowski has written several books on vexillology and heraldry, and has designed arms and flags for many Polish administrative districts, cities and communes.
From 1985 to 1994, Znamierowskie was an editor of the Polish Service of the Voice of America in Washington D.C. In 1994, he has returned to his native Poland, and in 1997, he has established Instytut Heraldyczno-Weksylologiczny (Institute of Heraldry and Vexillology) - since 2001 a member of FIAV Federation internationale des associations vexillologiques
. In 2001, Znamierowski was made by FIAV a Fellow of the Federation, and in 2005 he was rewarded with the highest vexillological award - the Vexillon for the promotion of vexillology.
Znamierowski is a member of the Heraldic Commission at the Ministry of Internal Affaires and Administration in Warsaw. Although he is known mainly for his expertise in heraldry and vexillology, he was also a leading member of the Polish-American Socio-Political Movement POMOST, and of Solidarność Walcząca from 1981 to 1990, organizations striving for the independence of Poland. In 2007, he was honoured with the Golden Cross of Merit.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
vexillologist
Vexillology
Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags. The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum, meaning 'flag', and the Greek suffix -logy, meaning 'study'. The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era; its name is a diminutive form of the word velum...
, heraldist
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
and journalist. During his career he has published several books and designed hundreds of coats of arms, flags, banners and seals for over 200 different municipalities and institutions.
Biography
Znamierowski was born in June, 1940 in Warsaw, Poland. Znamierowski has studied geography at the University of WarsawUniversity of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
. In 1965, he left Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and 1966-1978 was an editor of the Polish Service of the Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
in Munich, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1978, he has settled in the United States and founded The Flag Design Center in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. He was also a close co-worker of the German foremost heraldist Ottfried Neubecker
Ottfried Neubecker
Ottfried Neubecker was a German vexillologist and heraldist.-Early life and education:He was born 22 March 1908 in Berlin-Charlottenburg in Germany, into the family of a university teacher...
and an American vexillologist Whitney Smith
Whitney Smith
Whitney Smith is a professional vexillologist, i.e., scholar of flags. The term vexillology, which he coined in his 1958 article Flags of the Arab World, refers to the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags. In 1961, Smith and colleague Gerhard Grahl cofounded The Flag Bulletin, the world's...
. Znamierowski made thousands of renditions of coats of arms and flags for their books as well as for numerous encyclopedias in Germany, United States, and Poland. For many years he was the chief artist of the "Flag Bulletin" published by Smith, who called him "the premier vexillological artist in the world".
Alfred Znamierowski is one of the leading figures in vexillology and the world'sforemost flag artist. He began publishing numerous press articles on flags in the 1960s, and during the last 25 years thousands of his illustrations have been published in encyclopedias, books and journals. He has also designed flags and arms for commercial firms and for individuals. He is the founder of the Instytut Heraldyczno-Weksylologiczny (Institute of Heraldry and Vexillology) in his native Poland. Alfred Znamierowski has written several books on vexillology and heraldry, and has designed arms and flags for many Polish administrative districts, cities and communes.
From 1985 to 1994, Znamierowskie was an editor of the Polish Service of the Voice of America in Washington D.C. In 1994, he has returned to his native Poland, and in 1997, he has established Instytut Heraldyczno-Weksylologiczny (Institute of Heraldry and Vexillology) - since 2001 a member of FIAV Federation internationale des associations vexillologiques
Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques
The Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques is an international federation of 55 regional, national, and multinational associations and institutions across the globe that study vexillology, which FIAV defines in its constitution as "the creation and development of a body of...
. In 2001, Znamierowski was made by FIAV a Fellow of the Federation, and in 2005 he was rewarded with the highest vexillological award - the Vexillon for the promotion of vexillology.
Znamierowski is a member of the Heraldic Commission at the Ministry of Internal Affaires and Administration in Warsaw. Although he is known mainly for his expertise in heraldry and vexillology, he was also a leading member of the Polish-American Socio-Political Movement POMOST, and of Solidarność Walcząca from 1981 to 1990, organizations striving for the independence of Poland. In 2007, he was honoured with the Golden Cross of Merit.
Publications
- Stworzony do chwały, Editions Spotkania, Warszawa 1995
- The World Encyclopedia of Flags, Anness Publishing, London 1999
- Flags Through the Ages, a Guide to the World of Flags, Banners, Standards and Ensigns, Southwater, London 2000
- Flags of the World, an Illustrated Guide to Contemporary Flags, Southwater, London 2000
- World Flags Identifier, Lorenz Books, London 2001
- Flagi świata, Horyzont, Warszawa 2002
- Insygnia, symbole i herby polskie, Świat Książki, Warszawa 2003
- Herbarz rodowy, Świat Książki, Warszawa 2004
- The World Encyclopedia of Flags & Heraldry, Anness Publishing, London 2007
- Wielka księga heraldyki, Świat Książki, Warszawa 2008
External links
- FIAV The Flag Bulletin XXXII:5/154, Anness Publishing Limited, Świat Książki, Hermes House.