Re, Vestfold

Unfortunately the blazon, which is the only official description of the arms and flag, says just 'escarbuncle', which would imply eight rays, while the model drawings, which are only examples of how the arms and flag may be correctly drawn, shows just five rays. In my opinion there is a mismatch between blazon and artistic execution in this case. As the number of rays is intentionally set to five, this should have been reflected in the blazon in my opinion.

I wrote an article about the flag of Re kommune for Nordisk Flaggkontakt [nfs], the periodical of the Nordic Flag Society, so I can provide some more details about the flags of Re kommune and the two municipalities that joined to form it.

Re kommune is a newly established Norwegian municipality, dating from 1 January 2002, and being formed by the merger of the municipalities of Ramnes kommune and Våle kommune. The arms and flag of Re kommune is the result of a public competition and a public vote on alternatives among inhabitants, the decision being finalized by a Royal resolution dated 31 August 2001. As mentioned the blazon is rather brief and not matched to the intended artistic execution of the arms and flag. The Royal resolution states that "The arms of Re municipality will be: In green a gold escarbuncle. The flag of Re municipality will be: In green a yellow escarbuncle."

Whilst an escarbuncle is usually depicted with eight rays of lilies, in the case of Re kommune the intention is that the number shall always be five – to reflect the five parishes in the municipality. The escarbuncle is also to symbolize unity, and to point back in history to the two battles at Re, the place that gave the municipality its name, in the 1100's at which one might imagine escarbuncles on the shields of the men fighting.

I used proportions 8:11 (national flag proportions) for my drawing of the flag of Re.
Jan Oskar Engene, 21 April 2002

Official blazon in Norwegian: "I grønt en gul liljehaspel."

Blazoned in English: "In green a yellow escarbuncle."
English blazon by Jan Oskar Engene, 21 April 2002

On 30 January 1976 a Royal resolution decided that "The arms of Ramnes municipality will be: In silver a black raven. The flag of the municipality of Ramnes will be: In white a black raven." The raven was chosen because of the etymology of the name of the municipality, the first part meaning raven. In the drawing used, the raven is shown with its wings lifted. Re kommune used both its arms and its flag. Again I used proportions 8:11 (national flag proportions) for my drawing of the flag.
Jan Oskar Engene, 21 April 2002

Official blazon in Norwegian: [Not yet presented]
Blazoned in English: [No translation made]

On 23 February 1990 arms were approved for Våle kommune. The Royal resolution states that "The arms of Våle municipality will be: In green a gold mistletoe. The flag of Våle municipality will be: In green a yellow mistletoe." Mistletoe is a rare plant in Norway and Våle is one of the few places where it grows. Whereas the arms were taken into use, it seems that Våle kommune did not use its flag. Once again I used proportions 8:11 (national flag proportions) for my drawing of the flag.
Jan Oskar Engene, 21 April 2002

Official blazon in Norwegian: [Not yet presented]
Blazoned in English: [No translation made]