Search Results for: Triquetra

Triquetra

Triquetra (Period)

Triquetra (Period)

A triquetra is a design common in ecclesiastical art, where it is a symbol of the Trinity.  It consists of three semi-circular arcs interlaced, the ends conjoined to form a knot.  The triquetra is a period charge:  under the name “Tyrell knot”, it was the badge of Sir Thomas Tyrell, d.1502 [Walden 129; Siddons II.2 295].  Though Tyrell used the charge with a point to base, the Society default for the triquetra is with a point to chief.

Tarynsa of Rivendell bears:  Azure, three triquetras Or.

Ástríðr in spaka bears:  Argent, three triquetras vert.

Ciaran ferch Marc bears:  Quarterly sable and vert, in saltire five triquetras argent.

This entry was posted on June 5, 2014, in .

Teazel

Teazel slipped and leaved (Period)

Teazel slipped and leaved (Period)

The teazel, or teasel, is a spiny flower used in dressing or fulling cloth; it is sometimes more fully blazoned a “fuller’s teazel” for that reason.  It is a period charge, found in the arms of the Worshipful Company of Fullers, 1510 (later incorporated into the Clothworkers, 1530) [Bromley & Child 48].  Unlike most flowers, the teazel is shown in profile by default.

The teazel could either be blazoned “slipped and leaved”, as shown as in the illustration; or only the head might be shown, blazoned a “teazel’s cob” or “teazel’s head”.  For related charges, see thistle.

Liadan Chu bears:  Argent, three teasels slipped and leaved vert, between two flaunches purpure each charged with a triquetra fesswise one point outward Or.

Anne la Trouvere bears:  Vert, a teazel slipped and leaved and on a chief Or three lozenges azure.

Beatrix Elizabeth de Lara bears:  Quarterly azure and argent, in bend sinister a teazel head and a Catherine’s wheel sable within a bordure counterchanged.

This entry was posted on June 5, 2014, in .

Knot: trefoil knot

Trefoil knot (Accepted)

Trefoil knot (Accepted)

The “trefoil knot” is a closed loop with three lobes; it’s a more rounded variant of a triquetra.  Its blazon is a simple description of its form; no examples have been found of its use in period armory.

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme bears as a badge:  Two trefoil knots braced.

This entry was posted on February 18, 2014, in .

Knot

A knot is a complex interlace, usually of rope or twine; there are a great many varieties.  In period heraldry, knots were normally used as badges, but there are some examples of knots used in coats of arms – e.g., the Bourchier knots in the arms of Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1454-86 [DBA3 430] – and they may be so used in Society heraldry.

Of the knots used in the Society, many are taken from medieval heraldry; some are simple knots, described in the blazon rather than given a special name; some are used mundanely in other occupations, such as surgery; and some knots are Society inventions.  The illustrations show each knot in its default orientation.

The knots taken from medieval heraldry include:

The simple generic knots include:

The knots used in occupations include:

Finally, of the Society inventions:

Knots must maintain their identifiability when used as charges.  In general, this means they may not be conjoined to form a large knotwork pattern, such as found in Celtic illumination.  So long as they can still be identified, simple knots may be conjoined in small numbers:  v. the arms of Zyganer, 1605 [Siebmacher 73], with three knots conjoined in pall inverted.

For related charges, see cross, fret, Norse beasts, pretzel, serpent, star of David, tassel, tress of hair, triquetra, valknut, yarn.

This entry was posted on February 18, 2014, in .