Murrey is a non-standard tincture in heraldry, typically classified as a "stain." It is a dark, reddish-purple or mulberry color, often described as the color of a ripe mulberry.
- Classification: Murrey is one of the three so-called "stains" (along with Sanguine and Tenne) that are considered irregular or debased tinctures in traditional British heraldry. While the five main colors (Gules, Azure, Sable, Vert, Purpure) and two metals (Or, Argent) are universally standard, the stains were historically theorized to denote a specific dishonor or abatement of arms, though this practice was rarely, if ever, systematically applied in practice. In modern heraldry, particularly outside of strict British tradition, these colors are sometimes used more freely as artistic variations, though they remain significantly less common than the principal tinctures.
- Color Profile: Murrey occupies a chromatic space between gules (red) and purpure (purple), with a strong red component. Its precise shade can vary depending on artistic interpretation, but it consistently refers to a deep, dark red-purple that evokes the fruit from which it takes its name.
- Distinction from Purpure: Murrey is distinct from purpure, which is a more pure purple or violet, often leaning towards blue. Murrey always carries a pronounced red undertone, which differentiates it from the bluer or truer purple of purpure.
- Usage: Due to its classification as a stain, Murrey is infrequently encountered in historical armory. When it appears, it is most often in more modern grants of arms or in specific regional heraldic traditions where the rules regarding tinctures might be less rigid. For instance, it has been used in some liveries and specific grants by the English Crown (e.g., in some warrants for royal appointments).
- Symbolism: As with other stains, no universally accepted or traditional symbolism is consistently attached to Murrey, beyond the general historical (and largely obsolete) implication of an abatement for specific misdeeds.