Gurges

Gurges (ancient) (Period)

Gurges (Tudor) (Period)

A gurges is the heraldic representation of a whirlpool, by which name it is sometimes blazoned. It is found in the canting arms of Gorges, c.1255 [Asp2 152]. In its original form, the gurges was drawn as a series of concentric annulets, typically around four in number; with the outer rings often intersecting the edges of the shield. At the end of our period, possibly as a result of misdrawing, it began to be drawn as a spiraling line from the center to the edge of the shield; this is the form found in most modern heraldry texts. (The illustrations both show a dark gurges on a white field.) The forms are considered interchangeable, and both are permitted in Society armory.

Despite some early Society misblazons, the gurges is a charge. Barring period examples, surmounting a gurges with an overall charge is considered a step from period practice. For related charges, see schnecke.

Damian d’Outremer bears: Sable, a gurges Or.

Gregory of Glencairn bears: Vert, a cross engrailed argent, overall a gurges Or.

Geoffrey de Rennes bears as a badge: Or, a whirlpool rayonny vert.

Gun

Arquebus (Accepted); pistol (Accepted)

The term “gun” is used here to mean any firearm held and used in the hand (as opposed to, e.g., cannons or mortars). This category of weapon includes the “musket” and the “arquebus”, long-barrelled firearms with shoulder stocks (the top charge in the illustration); and the “pistol” or “handgun”, less accurate but capable of being fired in one hand (the bottom illustrated charge). Such weapons are period: the arquebus was in use by the late 14^th Century [Stone 71]. They were also used as period heraldic charges: a handgun, with a large bore and a small handle, is found in the canting arms of Gonson, c.1520 [DBA1 56]; a long gun with a strap (presumably an arquebus) was the canting badge of John Gunthorpe, Dean of Wells (d.1498) [Siddons II.2 335].

Any type of gun is acceptable in Society armory, so long as it was known in period: matchlock, wheellock, and flintlock weapons are all permitted. A firearm “proper” has a brown wooden stock and black metal parts; it is fesswise, muzzle to dexter by Society default.

Guitar

Guitar (Accepted)

A guitar is a stringed musical instrument, favored in southern Europe during the Renaissance. Its body was flat-backed, narrowed slightly at the waist, with a fretted neck longer in proportion than the citole or the gittern. The Renaissance guitar was similar in shape (though smaller) to the modern classical guitar; the illustration is taken from Morlaye’s Premier Livre de Chansons en tabulature de guiterne, 1552 [Grove 10:554]. Though a period instrument, the guitar doesn’t seem to have been used in period armory; its Society default orientation is affronty, with strings facing the viewer, and with neck to chief. For related charges, see lute.

Abu Zayd Ezbek Abd al-Latif ibn Farrukh bears: Or, on a pale bretessed between two doumbecs vert, a guitar Or.

Grozing iron

Grozing iron fesswise (Period)

A grozing iron is a metal tool for removing the rough edges from sheets of glass. It is sometimes called a “crimping iron” or “glazier’s nippers” in mundane blazons. The grozing iron is a period charge, found in the arms of Kaylewaye or Kelloway, mid-16^th C. [Bedingfeld 92; cf. BSB Cod.Icon 291:75]; they were borne (without authority) by the Worshipful Company of Glaziers in 1588 [Bromley & Child 116]. The illustration shows a grozing iron fesswise.

Marya Glasscutter bears: Per pale vert and sable, a grozing iron fesswise argent.

Kenneth of the Grove bears: Sable, two grozing irons in saltire within a bordure embattled argent.

Brynniulfr Herleifsson bears as a badge: Two grozing irons in saltire sable and vert.

Grindstone

Grindstone (Period)

A grindstone is a stone disc mounted on an axle, with a crank for turning; it’s used for sharpening knives and other blades. The grindstone is a period charge, found in the canting arms (Italian mola) of da Molla, mid-15^th C. [Triv 227].

The term “grinding wheel” is a Society blazon for a grindstone mounted in a wooden frame for use, as seen in an image in the Romance of Alexander, c.1340. As a charge, it appears to be unique to the Society. For related charges, see mill. See also rock (millstone), wheel.

Wolfric Hammerfestning bears: Azure, a grinding wheel between three axes reversed argent.

Grillage

Grillage (Period)

Grillage consists of a set of pallets interlaced with a set of barrulets; it is essentially a fretty field set crosswise. Strangways’ Book, c.1450, blazons it as “square fretty” and assigns it to the arms of Sir John Mandeville [H. Stanford London, Some Medieval Treatises on English Heraldry, 1953, p.178].

Like fretty, while grillage has some of the characteristics of a field treatment, it acts as a charge: charges overlying grillage must have good contrast with the underlying field.

The Canton of Forestgate bears: Vert, a bear rampant sustaining a key within a laurel wreath Or and a chief Or grillage sable.

Avisa of Dun Carraig bears: Azure grillage Or, on a bend sinister argent two forget-me-not sprigs stems to center azure slipped and leaved vert.

Cristoffel Muller bears: Azure grillage Or, on a chief argent two castles gules.

Griffin; Keythong

Griffin (Period)

Keythong rampant (Period)

The griffin, or gryphon, is a classical monster, with the head, wings and forefeet of an eagle, the hindquarters of a lion, and mammalian ears; period emblazons sometimes show it bearded as well. Its default posture is rampant, which when applied to griffins may be termed “segreant”. The griffin is one of the earliest heraldic monsters, dating from c.1280 in the arms of Montagu [ANA2 492].

The griffin has several variant forms, as might be expected for a monster of such antiquity. The form found in ancient Assyria, for example, has a lion’s forelegs instead of an eagle’s forelegs; no heraldic difference is granted for this artistic variation.

There is also what later texts call the “male griffin”: this differs from the standard griffin by a lack of wings, and by sharp spikes radiating from its body. (The term “male griffin” is a misnomer: both forms were shown with male members in period art.) This same creature was termed a “keythong” in a roll of badges, 1475 [Dennys CoA]; it was certainly considered a separate monster in period. Some authors have suggested that it developed from the German form of the heraldic panther, with the spikes meant as the panther’s flames. “Male griffin” is the more common term for this monster, but “keythong” is coming into use as well. The illustration shows a keythong rampant.

For related charges, see dragon, hippogriff, opinicus.

The King of Avacal bears: Quarterly argent and Or, a griffin rampant, on a point pointed gules a crown within a laurel wreath Or.

Alfonso de Castile bears: Or, a griffin segreant sable.

John ap Griffin bears: Vert, a griffin segreant contourny Or.

Maureen ha-Ivriah bears: Azure, an Assyrian griffin couchant, gazing to chief, wings displayed argent.

Gruffydd ap Idwallon bears: Ermine, a keythong rampant contourny reguardant vert.

Gridiron

Gridiron (Period)

A gridiron is a metal lattice for broiling or grilling food (or, in the case of St. Lawrence, saints). It’s a period charge, found in the canting arms of the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, 1454 [Bromley & Child 109]. The gridiron is palewise, handle to base, by default.

There is also the “spiral iron”, likewise used for grilling food. Though a period artifact, dating from the Iron Age in Scandinavia, it’s not been found in period armory. The spiral iron is palewise, handle to base, by default. See also frying pan, portcullis, strike.

Maren Lauritsdatter bears: Per pale azure and vert, three gridirons argent.

Domenico Barbiere da Mantova bears as a badge: A gridiron sable.

Brian fitz Gerald bears as a badge: Argent, a spiral iron sable, a bordure gules.

Graver

Graver, point to base (Accepted)

A graver is a handheld engraving tool, used to scribe designs on metal. It is a period artifact: a graver is shown in a painting of St. Eligius at his work, by Niclaus Maneul, 1515 [John Cherry, Medieval Crafts: A Book of Days, p.50]. It does not appear to have been used in period heraldry.

The graver has no default orientation, but must be explicitly blazoned; the illustration shows a graver with point to base. For related charges, see awl. See also chisel.

William Graver bears: Azure chaussé, a vol argent and overall a graver, point to base, Or.

Grappling iron

Grappling iron (Period)

A grappling iron is a metal hook, tied to a line and thrown at enemy ships so they may be pulled closer. It is also called a “grappling hook” or “grapnel”. It’s a period charge, found in the arms of Stewyne, mid-16^th C. [Bedingfeld 58]. The grappling iron is drawn with three or four flukes; it is palewise, flukes to base by default, though when held in a hand, the iron’s flukes are to chief. For related charges, see anchor.

Hernando Herodes Montenegro de Mondragon bears as a badge: In pale two grappling irons of four hooks, conjoined at the ring sable.

Mistholme

heraldry, illumination, and random jottings

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