Our HH ‘logo’ originates from the wax seal of an ancient document by Hans’ ancestor Heinrich Herzog, preserved in the state archives in Switzerland. He used his signet ring (a symbol of family heritage) showing the family crest with his initials to seal the purchase of a hillside vineyard towering over Switzerland’s Rhine River in 1630.
The Herzog’s have lived in this region for generations. First mentioned in 1482, they are farmers, tending their animals and modest vineyards clustered around the villages of Thal, nestled beside the mighty Rhine river.
Hans is born on the same land, the youngest son of Heinrich Herzog, in the long lineage of descendants, where the same name was always given to the first son. Winegrowing, then, flows deep in the blood of Hans Herzog.
Hundreds of years later and thousands of miles further, on the banks of another mighty river, the same crest is writing history again.
Signet rings – general history
The wearing of signet rings (from Latin "signum" meaning sign) goes back to ancient Egypt; the distinctive personal signature was not developed in antiquity and most documents needed a seal. A seal of Pharaoh is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Genesis 41:42: "Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph's hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck."
Signet rings, engraved with a coat of arms, used by merchants to identify his goods are amongst the most common types of surviving medieval and Renaissance rings. The engraved bezel of the ring was pressed into sealing wax and this was then fixed onto a letter or deed.
