Search Results for: foot

Leg; Foot

Leg couped (Period)

Leg couped (Period)

Legs are the limbs used for locomotion.  Any legged creature may contribute a leg to heraldry; legs from humans, eagles, lions, bears, deer and horses are found in period armory.

 

The default leg is the human leg.  The human leg is severed well above the knee; it should be specified whether the leg is couped (as in the illustration) or erased.  By default, the human leg is shown bare; if blazoned “proper”, it follows the same Society blazon conventions as full humans proper, as described under human figure.  The human leg may also be clothed in men’s hosen, as in the canting arms of de la Hose c.1275 [ANA2 550], or be shod in sandals or shoes.

 

 

Lion's jambe erased (Period)

Lion’s jambe erased (Period)

Eagle's leg couped à la quise (Period)

Eagle’s leg couped à la quise (Period)

Some animals’ legs have special terms in blazonry.  A lion’s leg may be called its “gambe” or “jambe”; as a charge, it dates from at least 1413, in the arms of von Litaw [Conz.Const. cliiii].  (A dragon’s leg may also be called its “jambe”.)  Birds’ legs may be severed “à la quise”, at the thigh; this usage is found c.1480, in the arms of Lancaster [DBA2 383].  Lions’ and dragons’ jambes are erect by default, with their claws to chief; humans’ and birds’ legs are foot down by default.  The illustrations show a lion’s jambe erased and an eagle’s leg couped à la quise.

 

 

 

Foot couped (Period)

Foot couped (Period)

Bird's foot bendwise erased (Period)

Bird’s foot bendwise erased (Period)

A “foot” is the section of the leg below the knee.  Human feet are found, dating from c.1295 in the arms of Shrigley [ANA2 453]; they are detached from their legs at the ankle, and have their toes to dexter by default.

Of animals’ feet, the most confusion has arisen with birds’ feet:  a common mistake is to blazon the foot as a “claw” or “talon”, which properly refers only to the toenail.  The bird’s foot is a period charge, as found in the arms of von Grünau, 1605 [Siebmacher 58]; it includes no part of the thigh, but only the unfeathered portion below the joint.  The illustration shows a bird’s foot bendwise.

The majority of beasts’ and birds’ feet (as distinct from legs) are erect by default, with the claws to chief; only human feet seem to go downwards by default.  For related charges, see claw (crab’s), sole, triskelion.  See also ham.

The Order of the Jambe de Lion, of An Tir, bears:  Checky Or and argent, a lion’s jambe bendwise inverted erased sable.

Pascal Foljambe bears:  Azure, a leg couped Or.

Anlaug Dalesdotter bears:  Or, three armored legs azure.

Emma Barfoot bears:  Sable, a foot couped and in chief a bar argent.

Lothar von Katzenellenbogen bears:  Or, in saltire five lion’s jambes couped at the shoulder gules.

Rauðbjorn Ágeirsson bears:  Azure, three bear’s jambes erased Or.

Cett Donegal bears:  Gules, three eagle’s jambes erased à la quise contourny argent.

Wulfwen atte Belle bears as a badge:  In pale a tentacle vert issuant from a boot sable and maintaining a spoon fesswise reversed Or.

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

Cross: Fitchy, fitched, fitched at the foot

Cross formy fitchy (Period)

Cross formy fitchy (Period)

Cross formy fitched at the foot (Period)

Cross formy fitched at the foot (Period)

A cross “fitchy” is any cross whose lower limb has been replaced with a long point.  The term derives from the French for “fixed (in the ground)”; the cross is stuck into the ground by its point.  Such crosses fitchy date from the earliest heraldry, as in the arms of de Vesci, c.1244 [Asp2 215].  Some modern texts use the term synonymously with “pointed”, and talk of a “cross fitchy at all limbs”; but this is a misunderstanding of the term, and should not be used.  Normally the upper limbs of a cross fitchy are also treated, in some other way (since they cannot readily be throughout); the bottom limb is typically somewhat longer than the other three, and comes to a tapering point.  The illustration shows a cross formy fitchy.

A cross “fitchy at the foot” (or “fitched at the foot”) is an artistic variant of the cross fitchy, where the point does not replace the lower limb, but instead issues from its center.  In period, the usage seems only to have been used with crosses with splayed limbs:  e.g., the cross formy fitchy at the foot, as seen in the banner of the Kings of Aragon, c.1370 [Gelre 62v] (and in the illustration), or the cross potent fitchy at the foot, c.1340 [Zurich 18].

Launcelot de Westwood bears:  Azure, a cross botonny fitchy Or.

Cathleen de Barre bears:  Gules, three crosses crosslet fitchy Or.

Seth Williamson of Exeter bears:  Lozengy purpure and Or, a cross formy fitchy argent.

Olafr the mercenary bears:  Per pale argent and gules, two crosses formy fitchy at the foot counterchanged sable and Or.

This entry was posted on January 9, 2014, in .

Triskelion; Triskele

Triskelion of armored legs (Period)

Triskelion of armored legs (Period)

Triskelion arrondi, or triskele (SFPP)

Triskelion arrondi, or triskele (SFPP)

A triskelion is a design first used in classical Greek art, with three embowed limbs conjoined in pall.  The name derives from the Greek tri, skelos, “three legs”; the classical form does indeed use three bent legs, conjoined at the thighs.  However, mundane armory doesn’t tend to use this term in blazon; most instances of triskelions are blazoned as “three arms” or “three legs” conjoined, and listed as such in mundane ordinaries.  (The illustration shows the legs in armor, as in the arms of the Kings of the Isle of Man, c.1275 [ANA2 478].)

In Society heraldry, the most common form of triskelion is the “triskelion arrondi” or “triskele”:  three pointed limbs, smoothly curved, and embowed.  (The embowment is part of the definition of a triskelion; without it, the design would simply be three charges conjoined in pall.).  With no examples from period armory, the triskelion arrondi is deemed a step from period practice.

Triskelion pommetty (Accepted); triskelion gammadion in annulo (Disallowed)

Triskelion pommetty (Accepted); triskelion gammadion in annulo (Disallowed)

Some of the Society’s triskelions are based on certain crosses.  Thus we have the “triskelion pommetty” and the “triskelion gammadion in annulo”.  (The latter form, having been adopted by certain white supremacist groups, is no longer registerable.)  Presumably, one could have a “triskelion fleury” as well, or some other triskelion based on a variant of cross.

Triskelions may also be made up of other charges, so long as they are bent or embowed.  Thus there might be a “triskelion of dragon’s heads”, a “triskelion of three scarves”, or a “triskelion of chevrons”.  One example of this type, the “triskelion of spirals”, has been deemed a step from period practice, but still permitted.

Similar to the triskelion is the “pentaskelion” which, as its name implies, has five limbs instead of three.

Triskelions may turn either clockwise or counter-clockwise; the fact is not blazoned.  The most famous mundane triskelion, in the arms of the Isle of Man, has been depicted in period art going either direction; and the same is true of triskeles in Society heraldry.  It is left to the artist’s license, and no difference is counted for it.  For related charges, see arm, cross, leg, pall.

The King of Trimaris bears:  Argent, on a fess wavy between two triskeles azure a crown of five points, each point tipped with a mullet argent, between overall a laurel wreath counterchanged.

Finngall McKetterick bears:  Or, a triskelion of armored human legs vert.

Douglas Longshanks bears:  Sable, a pentaskelion of armored legs argent.

Terryl of Talavera bears:  Argent, a triskelion arrondi azure, between in pale two torteaux.

Sorcha ar Menez bears:  Vert, a triskelion of spirals argent between in cross four mullets pierced Or.

Colm the Defrocked bears:  Vert, a triskelion of demi-birds argent.

Goraidh Ailean na Gordanaich bears:  Purpure, a triskelion pommetty pallwise Or.

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

Swan

Swan (Period)

Swan (Period)

The swan is a water bird, both graceful and fierce, famed for its death song; it was said to bring good luck.  It’s found in the arms of Dale as early as 1387 [DBA2 153].  The young swan was also called a “cygnet”, especially for canting, as in the arms of Synnot, c.1470 [DBA2 178].

The swan is rousant or rising by default, as in the famous badge of Bohun, later of Henry IV [HB 109].  However, it’s very frequently found naiant in Society heraldry; this too is a period posture, as in the Belgian arms of Lanchals, c.1488 [von Volborth, The Art of Heraldry, 1987, p.90].

For related charges, see goose.

The Prince of Cynagua bears:  Quarterly argent and Or, a swan rousant, wings elevated and addorsed sable, maintaining in its sinister foot a laurel wreath vert.

Amina de Talavera bears:  Azure, a swan naiant argent crowned Or.

Nikolai Mikhailovitch bears:  Or, three swans rousant gules.

Thomas Blackswann the Lefthand bears:  Argent, three swans rousant contourny sable.

This entry was posted on June 3, 2014, in .

Stirrup

Stirrup (Period)

Stirrup (Period)

Leathered stirrup (Period)

Leathered stirrup (Period)

A stirrup is a footrest for horse riders, a flat-bottomed ring of metal hung by a strap from the saddle.  The standard heraldic form is the English stirrup; it is sometimes so blazoned.  It’s a period charge, dating from 1308 in the arms of Kydemore [ANA2 549].

In medieval heraldry, the stirrup was usually drawn “leathered”, i.e., showing a bit of strap, though there are examples of unleathered stirrups as well (e.g., the badge of Gyfford, c.1520 [Walden 201]); in Society heraldry, the leather is not shown unless blazoned.  The Society also has a single example of a “stirrup-cup”, which is identical to an inverted escutcheon in shape; this charge is unattested in period armory.  See also spur.

The Order of the Golden Stirrup, of Æthelmearc, bears:  A stirrup Or leathered gules.

Berengaria de Hainault bears:  Azure, three stirrups Or, leathered argent.

Meadhbh inghean ui Bhaoighill bears:  Per fess azure and Or fretty azure, a stirrup Or.

This entry was posted on June 3, 2014, in .

Spinning wheel

Spinning wheel (Accepted)

Spinning wheel (Accepted)

A spinning wheel is a tool for making thread; it is sometimes termed a “wool wheel”.  It has a large wheel turning a single spindle, on which the thread is spun; period wheels were turned by hand, not by a foot treadle.  Though a period artifact, the spinning wheel has not been found in period armory. The illustration is taken from the Luttrell Psalter, c.1340; it is the earliest known depiction of the artifact.

The spinning wheel has its spindle to sinister by Society default.  See also distaff, drop-spindle.

Eloise of Roed bears:  Argent, a wool wheel, alighting on the head a crow proper.

Edwinna of Hawk’s Bluff bears:  Azure, three spinning wheels with spindles to dexter argent.

Effym Cowie Murray bears:  Argent, a spinning wheel reversed sable.

This entry was posted on June 3, 2014, in .

Sole

Shoe sole (Period)

Shoe sole (Period)

Sole of a human foot (Accepted)

Sole of a human foot (Accepted)

The sole is the underlying part of a foot or shoe, that portion touching the ground.  The type of sole found in period armory is the shoe sole, which has its toe to chief by default; it’s found in the canting arms (dial. Italian söra) of de Sori, mid-15th C. [Triv 325], and illustrated in Bossewell, 1572 [III.17].

In Society armory, we find an example of the sole of a human foot.  While this charge is found in mundane armory in the arms of Voet [Woodward 207], it has not been dated to period.  Like the shoe sole, the human foot sole has its toes to chief by default.

For related charges, see prints.  See also leg, shoe.

Percival de la Rocque bears as a badge:  A shoe sole per pale purpure and gules.

Mat of Forth Castle bears as a badge:  The sole of a human foot vert.

This entry was posted on June 3, 2014, in .

Shoe

Slipper (Period)

Slipper (Period)

Boot (Period)

Boot (Period)

A shoe is an item of clothing covering the human foot, to protect it or keep it warm.  The generic shoe has the upper portion end at the ankle; it may be tied or buttoned in place.  If without tie or button, it may also be termed a “slipper”, as in the canting arms (from Latin caliga, “footwear”) of di Calegari, mid-15th C. [Triv 121].

Frequently, the specific type of shoe is blazoned, e.g., the “boot”, blazoned as “botys” in the arms of Byllyngedon, c.1460 [RH], where they are drawn as long boots; the “Irish broge”, a pointed-toed shoe found in the arms of Arthure, 1632 [Guillim2 299]; or the “sandal”, open footwear held in place with straps, which as a charge appears to be unique to the Society.  All shoes have their toes to dexter by Society default; if blazoned “proper”, they are of brown leather.

Irish brogue (Period); sandal (Accepted)

Irish broge (Period); sandal (Accepted)

Despite Society precedent, boots in late period did have heels; and dexter and sinister boots were distinguished in period, though not in armory.  For related charges, see hose, leg, sole.

Elizabeth Ryan of Rosewood bears:  Lozengy sable and argent, a boot gules.

Alessandra Beatrice Desiderio bears:  Per bend sinister argent and azure, two slippers counterchanged.

Christian de Guerre bears:  Argent, three shoes and in chief a pearled coronet azure.

This entry was posted on June 3, 2014, in .

Prints

Paw print (SFPP)

Paw print (SFPP)

Prints are the impressions made by either animal or human feet; they are more fully termed “pawprints” or “hoofprints” (or, for human feet, “footprints”).  A single example of hoofprints has been found in modern German armory, in the civic arms of Gars, in Bavaria [Neubecker & Rentzmann, 10000 Wappen von Staaten und Städten, p.394]; prints are thus accepted for Society use, though they are considered a step from period practice.

While the type of animal is often blazoned, no heraldic difference is granted between various prints.  They are shown with the toe-marks to chief by Society default, as in the illustration.  For related charges, see sole.

Esther of Darkhaven bears:  Per fess sable and argent, in bend nine wolf-paw prints counterchanged five and four, in sinister chief a plate.

Artemas Maximus bears:  Or, a bear’s paw print gules.

Felix MacAvady bears:  Or, seven cat’s paw prints two, three and two sable.

Willelm le Pied bears:  Per bend sinister sable and azure, a footprint argent.

Watt Kidman bears:  Or, three goat’s hoofprints inverted Or.

This entry was posted on May 27, 2014, in .

Pot; Cauldron

Fleshpot, or posnet (Period)

Fleshpot, or posnet (Period)

Cauldron (Period)

Cauldron (Period)

A pot is a round vessel, usually of metal, intended to hold food.  In medieval armory, the default form of pot is two-handled and three-legged; it is more fully called a “fleshpot” or (in the Randall Holme roll, c.1460) a “posnet”.  This form is found as early as c.1370, in the arms of von Spanheim [Gelre 44].

Another common form of pot was the “cauldron”:  more spherical in shape, with a bail handle, which may be called its defining trait.  The cauldron is hung over the fire by its handle to cook food; it’s sometimes called a “cooking pot” for that reason.  The cauldron is a period charge, found as early as c.1340 in the arms of Diessenhofen [Zurich 153].  In Society armory, it is sometimes drawn with a fire beneath it, or hanging from a tripod:  the arms of Larrea, mid-16th C., show a cauldron so suspended [Armeria 358].

Spouted pot (Period)

Spouted pot (Period)

Three-footed pot (Accepted)

Three-footed pot (Accepted)

There is also the “spouted pot”, called a pot à verser in French, used for storing and pouring liquid.  It’s found in the canting arms (German Weinkanne) of Schilling von Cannstatt, c.1450 [Scheibler 131; also Siebmacher 112].  The default form is with a single spout, facing dexter; two-spouted pots are also found, in the arms of von Stedenberg or Stettenberger, c.1450 [Ingeram 158, 269; also Siebmacher 104].  (The same French term, pot à verser, is also used for a slightly different pouring vessel, made of earthenware rather than metal.  This variant, blazoned in German as a Weinkrug, is found in the arms of von Prackbach, 1605 [Siebmacher 93].)

Pipkin (Accepted)

Pipkin (Accepted)

Kettle (Accepted)

Kettle (Accepted)

Of the various pots unique to Society armory, we find the “three-legged pot”, like the cauldron but three-footed and without a handle; the “pipkin”, a ceramic cooking vessel with three feet and a long handle, dating to the 15th Century; and the “kettle”, a metal cookery pot, not spherical like the cauldron, but wider than it is deep, with a lifting handle on both sides.  No difference is granted the various types of cookery pots.

There is also the “clay pot”, not metal but pottery:  a flat-bottomed, wide-mouthed crock (much like a modern flower-pot).

Clay pot (Accepted)

Clay pot (Accepted)

For related charges, see amphora, caldera gringolada, frying pan, ink bottle (ink pot), pitcher, vase (urn).  See also cat (in its curiosity).

Aubrey Ericsdatter bears:  Sable, three cauldrons Or.

Agnes Berengarii de Gerona bears:  Vert, five cauldrons in saltire Or.

Brekke Franksdottir bears:  Sable, a cooking pot hanging from a tripod above a base in flame argent.

Roberto Valason bears:  Argent, a peacock in its pride azure gorged of a pearled coronet argent between two barrulets between two spouted pots reversed vert.

William Taylor the Pure bears:  Per pale purpure and vert, a bear’s leg palewise issuant from base Or, maintaining a clay pot argent.

Claire le Potter bears:  Per bend sinister gules and azure, a kettle argent and a bordure Or.

Dametta of Arundel bears:  Per pale purpure and sable, a gryphon segreant maintaining a chalice, on a chief argent three posnets per pale purpure and sable.

Parlane of Glenord bears:  Pean, on a three-legged pot argent two dolphins haurient respectant sable.

Mons von Goarshausen bears as a badge:  Issuant from a pipkin sable a flame gules.

This entry was posted on May 27, 2014, in .