Two additional colours appeared, and were generally accepted by heraldic writers, although they remained scarce, and were eventually termed stains, from the belief that they were used to signify some dishonour on the part of the bearer. Authorities differ as to whether these variations should be considered separate tinctures, or merely varieties of existing ones. Over time, variations on these basic tinctures were developed, particularly with respect to the furs. Since that time, the great majority of heraldic art has employed these nine tinctures. The earliest surviving coloured heraldic illustrations, from the mid-thirteenth century, show the standardized usage of two metals, five colours, and two furs. The basic scheme and rules of applying the heraldic tinctures dates back to the 12th century. The range of tinctures and the manner of depicting and describing them has evolved over time, as new variations and practices have developed. The use of tinctures dates back to the formative period of European heraldry in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
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