The original novels do not provide a detailed visual description of the Black family crest itself. However, its most central feature is the family motto, Toujours Pur, which is French for “Always Pure.” This motto encapsulates the family's fanatical belief in pure-blood supremacy. The crest was used as a formal seal; Sirius Black used sealing wax stamped with the crest on Harry Potter's Christmas present in 1995. In the film adaptations, a specific design for the crest was created. This version, now widely recognized, features a shield as its central element. The shield is typically depicted with symbols such as a chevron, three stars, a skull, and a dagger. The shield is often flanked by two supporters, which appear to be hounds or wolves, possibly referencing the Grim-like Animagus form of Sirius Black. The motto, Toujours Pur, is displayed on a scroll beneath the shield (film).
The Black family crest is not a magical object with inherent powers. Its primary function is symbolic, serving as a powerful emblem of the Black family's identity, history, and core values.
The crest is the ancestral symbol of the House of Black, dating back centuries. Its history is inextricably linked to the family's deep immersion in the Dark Arts and their militant enforcement of pure-blood ideology. The principles represented by the crest and its motto governed the family's actions for generations, leading them to disown any member who did not adhere to their strict standards. Family members blasted off the family tapestry for betraying these ideals include Andromeda Tonks (for marrying a Muggle-born, Ted Tonks) and Sirius Black (for rejecting the family's values and being sorted into Gryffindor). The crest remained a prominent feature within the family home at 12 Grimmauld Place long after the family line began to dwindle.
The Black family crest is a recurring symbol of the dark heritage that Sirius Black fought to escape. Its presence throughout 12 Grimmauld Place contributes to the grim, oppressive atmosphere of the house, which ironically becomes the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. The motto, “Toujours Pur,” is frequently referenced by Sirius as he explains his family's prejudiced history to Harry Potter. The crest’s appearance on the sealing wax of Sirius's final gift to Harry serves as a poignant reminder of his complex identity—a man who, despite rejecting his family, was the last heir to bear its name.