The coat of arms of the Pomeranian Voivodship is a griffin in black with raised wings, and red tongue on a yellow field. This heraldry dates back to the 16th century in a presbytery of the Oliwa Cathedral. The coat of arms was officially adopted in 2002.
This heraldric Griffin is of Pomeranian-Wendish origin.
The image of the black griffin looking towards the right, on a yellow background, is also known for being the coat of arms of Kashubians. Therefore, these two coats of arms are often identified; according to some sources, as being one and an identical coat of arms.
The creator of the coat of arms is Wawrzyniec Samp.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Between the years of 1454 and 1795, the coat of arms of the Pomeranian Voivodship was represented by a red griffin on a white background.
Second Polish Republic The coat of arms did alter substantially, "the coat of arms still included a red griffin looking to the left on a white background. The front legs were positioned as if they were to run, wings as if they were preparing to flight, the tongue was hanging out, and a crown on the head". There was a certain amount of controversy regarding the griffin being the coat of arms, as the former Chełmińskie Voivodeship had now been incorporated within the Pomeranian Voivodeship, whose coat of arms was a sworded eagle.
Historical
Heraldry Kashubian Griffin in heraldry:
Kashubian Griffin on coats of arms of Polish cities and towns:
References