From twisted knots to coats of arms, how mythical shapes and heraldry are turning up in modern homes. What does it all mean, asks Clare Dowdy. Steeped in history, ancient symbols are a rich seam ...

The checkerboard was a key design feature in early heraldry or coats of arms. Heraldry first appeared in the second half of the 12th Century, when crusaders introduced symbols on their shields ...