Search Results for: flask

Flask

Flask (Period)

Phial (Period)

A flask is a vessel, usually of glass or ceramic, with a constricted neck and a broad base. Generally, the term implies a laboratory vessel, used for chemical or alchemical procedures: the illustration is taken from de Bara, 1581 [132], who blazons it as un thalame philosophal. The flask is a period charge, found in the canting arms (Italian fiasco) of Fiaschi, c.1550 [BSB Cod.Icon 278:305].

There is also the “phial”, intended to hold small amounts of fluid (frequently for medicinal use). Phials are found in the arms of Adam de Rous, surgeon, 1379 [DBA3 42], and cited in Bossewell, 1572 [II.117]. The Society also has a similar charge, the “ampulla”, a small two-handled bottle used for relics, holy oil, &c. It’s smaller and more spherical.

Alembic flask (Accepted)

One specific type of flask is the “alembic flask”: used for distillation, it has a long sloping spout. It should not be confused with an “alembick”, which a post-period term for another charge altogether; for this reason, Society heraldry explicitly blazons it an “alembic flask“. It’s also frequently blazoned a “retort”, especially when drawn with a smooth, unbroken surface. As a charge, the alembic flask/retort seems to be unique to Society armory; its spout is to dexter by Society default. For related charges, see bottle, urinal.

The Alchemy Guild of the Barony of Rivenstar bears: Quarterly gules, azure, vert and sable, a retort reversed purpure fimbriated Or.

Vasco Pereira de Faria bears: Per bend Or and argent, an alembic flask vert.

Robert of the Angels bears: Azure, on a bend cotised between two flasks argent, a recorder, bell to chief sable.

Lorenzo Alhambra bears: Vert, on a chevron between three flasks argent, two salamanders combattant vert enflamed gules.

Michael Tryggve bears: Purpure, an ampulla Or, billety vert.

Vessels

Vessels are hollow containers for holding easily spilled contents. They come in a wide variety of shapes, depending on their intended purpose; they may be made of metal, wood, horn, ceramic or glass. If glass is intended, the charge should not be drawn as though transparent, through the use of voiding or chasing, but should be solidly tinctured.

For specific entries, see: amphora, apothecary jar, barrel, bottell, bottle, churn, cup, flask, horn (drinking), ink bottle, pitcher, pot, saltcellar, tankard, tub, urinal, vase. For related charges, see bowl, bucket, caldera gringolada, cupping-glass, frying pan, hourglass, mortar and pestle, water-bouget.

Urinal

Urinal in its basket (Period)

A urinal is a vessel used by physicians for storing or transporting urine samples. It consists of a glass flask protected by a cylindrical wire basket; its full period blazon is “a urinal in its carrier” (ung orynall dedens son case), as in the crest of Louis Caerlion, a physician, 1493 [Bedingfeld 63].

Jaquelinne Sauvageon bears: Azure, a urinal argent basketed Or.

Ink bottle

Inkbottle (Period)

Ink pot (Accepted)

An ink bottle is a short, squat vessel for holding a writer’s ink; it’s also called an “ink flask”, “ink horn”, or “ink well”, though the shape remains unchanged. It’s normally found as half of a penner and inkhorn, but we have at least one period example of its use as a separate charge: the arms of Abbot, d.1487 [DBA2 314].

There is also the “ink pot”, more ornate and less portable than a standard ink bottle; though a period artifact, its use as a charge seems unique to Society heraldry. See also bottle, flask.

The West Kingdom College of Scribes bears: Sable, an ink flask Or.

The College of Boethius bears as a badge: Or, on an open book azure, an ink pot Or.

Ingrid the Fair bears: Or, three inkwells gules, on a chief azure a drakkar without sail argent.

Cupping-glass

Cupping-glass (Accepted)

A cupping-glass is a medical instrument, consisting of an unornamented wide-mouthed vessel of glass or ceramic. In use, smoldering material was fixed to the vessel’s bottom, and the mouth placed on the patient’s skin; a partial vacuum was created in the vessel as the material burned. This drew the blood to the skin, which was supposed to improve the patient’s circulation.

The cupping-glass does not appear to have been used in armory; the one Society registration to date depicts a 19^th C. version. The illustration shows a more medieval form, taken from da Siena, La regime du corps, c.1287. The cupping-glass’s mouth is to chief by Society default. See also cup, flask.

Robin of Mannefeld bears: Sable mullety, in a cupping-glass inverted argent, a rose purpure, barbed and seeded proper.

Bottle

Two bottles (Period; Accepted)

A bottle is a small vessel, usually of glass or ceramic, with a narrow neck and mouth. There were a wide variety of shapes used in period, but few found their way to heraldry; any period shape of bottle may be used in Society armory. The illustration shows two typical examples; the one on the left is taken from the allusive arms (Italian muscia, a pint measure of wine) of de Muschiaro, mid-15^th C. [Triv 223], where the allusion makes clear that it’s a wine bottle.

The bottle should never be drawn as though transparent, through the use of voiding or chasing; it should be solidly tinctured. The bottle has its mouth to chief by default. For related charges, see amphora, flask. See also whistle (mariner’s).

John Linsdell of Tresco bears: Or, a bottle bendwise inverted azure distilling a goutte, a base gules.

Lorenz Wieland bears: Azure, a winged bottle bendwise sinister between in pall three eating forks tines to center argent.

Athanor

Athanor with a retort atop it (Accepted)

An athanor is a high-temperature furnace, specifically designed to heat alchemical vessels at constant temperatures for long periods. It is therefore frequently shown with a flask (such as a retort) atop it, which fact is always blazoned. (Without the flask, the athanor is indistinguishable from a tower.)

Though a period artifact, we have no examples of the athanor in period heraldry; the illustration is from a 1545 translation of the writings of Geber [Singer 739]. For related charges, see oven.

The Order of the Athanor, of Meridies, bears: A retort atop an athanor argent.

Luu Naran bears: Sable, a retort atop an athanor, in sinister chief a cross moline, a bordure Or.

Mistholme

heraldry, illumination, and random jottings