Known primarily as the author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien also created a number of original illustrations for his works. Among these illustrations were heraldic devices for several of his characters. This device belongs to Fingolfin, an Elf of the Noldor clan who participated in many battles against the forces of darkness during the First Age of Middle-Earth. At one point, Fingolfin also ruled as High King over his people.

According to the website Tolkien Gateway, these images appeared on calendars and book jackets in the 1970's, shortly after the author's death. Although the full symbolism behind many of them is unknown, certain details can be speculated upon: In Fingolfin's case, his device resembles the winged sun disk of his father Finwë, the first High King of the Noldor.