Tub

Tub (Period)

Bathtub (Period)

A tub is a wide, low vessel, made of wooden staves or metal; it was usually used for washing, either clothes or persons; in essence, it’s the lower half of an upright barrel. Tubs are period charges, found in the allusive arms of von Wasserburg, c.1340 [Zurich 371]; a form of tub with handles is found in the arms of Mastellizi, c.1550 [BSB Cod.Icon 269].

There is also the “bath tub”, specifically for washing people. This too turns out to be a period charge, in arms of von Suls or Sulz, c.1340 [Zurich 89]. For related charges, see bucket.

The Province of Caldarium bears: Or, on a wooden tub between two peacock feathers crossed in base proper, a laurel wreath Or.

Jorunn Eydisardottir bears: Vert, a tub Or and a ford proper.

Mariah Stern bears: Azure mullety Or, in pale a rainbow proper and a bath tub Or.

Trumpet

Trumpet (Period)

Spiral trumpet, or spiral hunting horn (Accepted)

A trumpet is a brass musical instrument with a flared end and a blaring tone. Its default form is more fully blazoned a “straight trumpet”; it was used as an heraldic charge as early as 1285, in the canting arms of Trumpington [ANA2 475]. Two straight trumpets in saltire are the symbol of the SCA College of Arms, and reserved to the College and the seals of its Sovereigns of Arms and the Principal Heralds.

Bucina, or Roman tuba (Accepted)

Baroque folded trumpet (Accepted)

Society armory also has examples of the “spiral trumpet”, also called a “spiral hunting horn“, the precursor of the modern French horn; the “baroque folded trumpet”, like a sackbut but with no moving parts (its length made a full range of notes possible); and the “Roman tuba” or “bucina”. All these trumpets have their bells to chief by default. See also cornetto, organ pipe.

The College of Arms bears: Vert, two straight trumpets in saltire, bells in chief Or.

Halla in heppna Knorsdottír bears: Purpure, in fess three straight trumpets Or.

Daven Echern bears: Azure, on a plate a horse salient to sinister sable, in base a spiral trumpet Or, all within a bordure embattled argent.

Corwyn Iain MacAern bears: Per chevron sable and argent, a griffin passant and a Roman tuba reversed counterchanged.

Lijss van den Kerckhove bears as a badge: Or, a baroque folded trumpet fesswise reversed purpure and in chief two rosemary sprigs fesswise conjoined at the stem vert.

Trowel

Trowel (Period)

A trowel is a small handheld tool used by masons (and later by gardeners), for spreading, scooping, or smoothing. It’s a period charge, found in the arms of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, 1545 [Bromley & Child 201]. The trowel has its handle to base by Society default, with the blade flat-on to the viewer. For related charges, see hoe, spade.

Alix Concordia von Altstein bears: Per pale purpure and vert, a pale rayonny argent between two trowels Or.

Thomas MacPherson bears: Argent billety gules, three trowels sable.

Trivet

Trivet (Period)

Triangular trivet (Period)

A trivet is a three-legged stand for holding cooking pots, &c. Trivets are often ornamental, and may be round or triangular; the round form is older in period armory, found in the canting arms of Tryvette as early as 1295 [ANA2 552]. The triangular form is specified in Society blazon.

The trivet is normally drawn in an early attempt at perspective, showing the top to the viewer, with all three legs visible.

Tripod (Period)

Society armory also has the “tripod”, similar to the trivet, but larger and tetrahedral in outline; it encloses its load, instead of resting underneath it. The tripod is never used alone, but only in conjunction with another charge (typically a cooking pot), which it supports. The arms of Larrea, mid-16^th C., show a cauldron so suspended [Armeria 358].

Alastar Scott MacCrummin bears: Or, three triangular trivets azure.

Gwenhwyvar ferch Owen ap Morgan bears: Per chevron argent and azure, a triangular trivet argent.

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

Triskelion; Triskele

Triskelion of armored legs (Period)

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)

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.

Triquetra

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.

Trillium

Trillium (Accepted)

The trillium is a flower native to North America, with three large white petals atop a whorl of three sepals (hence its name). As a New World flower, the trillium’s use was long considered a step from period practice. However, as its form is similar to the charge known as the tierce-feuille, in the arms of von Buderich, c.1370 [Gelre 93], the trillium is now accepted without stigma.

The trillium is shown affronty by default, with a petal to base; it has no proper tincture in Society armory.

The King of Ealdormere bears: Gules, a trillium flower affronty argent, barbed vert, within a laurel wreath, in chief a coronet argent.

Seamus a’ Chnuic Ghuirm bears: Argent, a trillium purpure barbed vert and seeded Or.

Lilion de Ardmacha bears: Per bend argent and vert, two trilliums counterchanged.

Trident

Trident (Period)

Ukrainian trident head (Accepted)

A trident is a three-pronged spear, used by fishermen and Roman gladiators; in classical art, it was borne as a scepter by the sea-god Neptune. Its head resembles that of a barbed fork. The trident is a period charge, found in the arms of von Streithorst, 1605 [Siebmacher 182]. It is palewise, tines to chief, by default.

The “trident head” alone, without the haft, is also found as a charge, in the arms of von Krottendorff or Krotendorf, c.1450 [Ingeram 18; also BSB 390:854, c.1560]. It’s similar to a depiction of the “eel-spear” [Guillim1 220] or “salmon spear” [Parker 220]; but unlike those charges, the trident head, like the trident, has its tines to chief by default.

A variant form, the “Ukrainian trident (head)”, is found in the modern arms of Ukraine; tradition has made it a totem of the Rurik dynasty. For related charges, see eel-fork, pole-arm. See also weapons.

The Baron of Marinus bears: Argent chaussé ployé per pale vert and azure, a trident sable its head environed of a laurel wreath vert.

Lennán mac Neill bears: Vert, three tridents argent.

Wilhelm von Frankfurt bears: Per bend sinister azure and purpure, a trident’s head inverted Or.

Bogdan Kobzar bears: Per chevron azure and argent, two Ukrainian trident heads Or and a kobza sable.

Tress of hair

Looped tress of hair (Period)

A tress of hair is a plaited length of human hair, knotted at the ends. It’s a period charge, found in the canting arms (Italian trecce) of de Trecio, c.1550 [BSB Cod.Icon 270:825], and in the badge of Zouche, c.1520 [Walden 163]. The illustration shows a simple looped tress, as in the badge of Zouche; the arms of de Trecio show the tress with the ends of the loop crossed in base, which fact is blazoned. See also knot.

Katja the Forthright bears as a badge: A looped tress of hair Or surmounted by a single-sided comb sable.

Eleanor a la Tresse bears: Per bend vert and gules, a tress of hair bendwise Or between a cross of Toulouse and an open book argent.

Tree

A tree is a large plant, with a main wooden trunk branching into foliage at the top. Its “proper” coloration is with green leaves and brown trunk. A tree “fructed” is bearing fruit, whose color may be specified; the fructing may also be considered artistic license, and added to a tree whether blazoned so or not.

Oak tree (Period)

Pine tree couped (Period)

In heraldic art, the tree’s leaves and fruit may be drawn much larger than in naturalistic art. Early examples, such as the canting arms (German Eich, “oak”) of von Eyck, c.1360 [Gelre 32v] show a very simplified and stylized form of tree. Later depictions, such as the oak tree in the allusive arms (Italian bosco, “wood”) of dal Bosco, mid-15^th C. [Triv 78], are closer to natural art but still exaggerate the size of the leaves and fruit [see also de Bara 75-77]. (Swedish heraldic art in particular is noted for this.) Finally, by the end of period, trees were drawn very naturalistically, as with the oak tree in the arms of Eychhauser, 1605 [Siebmacher 63], to the point that the type of tree becomes difficult to tell. The exaggerated style is therefore encouraged in the Society; a tree whose type cannot be determined is likely to be blazoned simply as a “tree”.

Orange tree fructed and eradicated (Period)

Palm tree couped (Period)

Many types of tree are found in heraldry. The oldest and most common type is the oak tree, found in the canting arms of Okestead, 1275 [ANA2 551]. (Indeed, if no specific type of tree is blazoned, the oak may always be used.) Many other types of tree are also found in period: the pear tree in the canting arms of Piriton, c.1285 [ANA2 551], the walnut tree in the canting arms (Latin nux) of de Noxigiis, mid-15^th C. [Triv 247], the olive tree in the canting arms of Oliveira, c.1540 [Nobreza xxxv], the beech tree in the canting arms (German Buche) of Bucher, 1605 [Siebmacher 64], the rowan tree in the canting arms (Italian sorbo) of Sorballi, c.1550 [BSB Cod.Icon 273:239]. (It should be obvious by now that cant was the primary reason in period for choosing a type of tree.) Society armory has instances of the pine, the linden, the ash, the yew, and the palm, among many others.

Willow tree (Period)

Poplar tree (Period)

For conflict purposes, the Society defines two broad categories for trees: coniferous trees, which are typically drawn with triangular foliage, and so-called “generic” trees, which are typically drawn with rounded or shapeless foliage. Pine trees and fir trees are examples of coniferous trees; oak trees and orange trees are examples of generic trees. Difference is granted between categories of tree; no difference is granted for type of tree within the same category.

Of special note are the willow and poplar trees. The willow tree is found in period armory in the canting arms (Latin salix) of von Salis, 1605 [Siebmacher 204]. The form used in period armory is the white willow; if the “weeping willow tree” is intended, it must be specified in blazon. No difference is granted between these variants.

The poplar tree had been ruled a step from period practice, based on the lack of period examples – particularly as it’s usually depicted, as the elongated “Lombardy poplar” [Fox-Davies, The Art of Heraldry, p.65]. However, the poplar tree in this form has since been documented, in the arms of Cardinal Dominic de Capranica, c.1550 [BSB Cod.Icon 267:179]. The Lombardy poplar, as it’s modernly known, is the default heraldic poplar tree for Society use.

Tree blasted and eradicated (Period)

Tree stump eradicated (Period)

Both the top and the base of a tree are subject to variation. At the base, the Society default is with a small upper portion of the roots showing, as might be seen in nature. The roots may also be “eradicated”, with the entire root system showing, as if forcibly uprooted from the ground; or “couped”, with the trunk cut cleanly, and no roots shown at all. The illustrations show an oak tree (with default roots), a pine tree couped, and an orange tree eradicated (and fructed as well).

At the top, the default is with leaves or foliage; but it also may be “blasted” or leafless, showing only the bare branches. This variant is found in de Bara, 1581 [77], who terms it un arbre sec (“a dry tree”). The illustration shows a tree blasted and eradicated.

A “stump” or “stock” is the bottom part of the tree, left after the tree has been felled; it was the canting badge of Zouche, c.1510 [HB 162]. The stump’s top edge is usually couped, but is sometimes found “snagged”, with the rough top surface tilted to the viewer. In Society blazonry, a “trunk” is a somewhat longer form of stump, while a “log” is simply a cleanly lopped form of a ragged staff. The illustration shows a stump eradicated.

Hurst of trees couped (Period)

A group of trees with their foliage conjoined may be called a “hurst”. When thus conjoined, the number of trees, even when blazoned, counts for no difference. Hursts are often issuant from a mount in mundane heraldry, but this fact is always specifically blazoned in Society heraldry. The illustration shows a hurst of trees couped.

For related charges, see: bush, créquier, slip, staff (ragged). See also fruit, leaf.

The King of Drachenwald bears: Or, in fess three pine trees eradicated gules, overall a dragon passant coward, all within a laurel wreath, in chief an ancient crown sable.

The Baron of Gyldenholt bears: Azure, on a hurst Or a laurel wreath vert, a bordure Or.

The Order of the Willow, of the Middle, bears: Purpure, a weeping willow tree eradicated Or.

Ioseph of Locksley, the Rhymer, bears: Vert, a tree eradicated argent.

Melodia of Okhurste bears: Per bend Or and argent, a tree blasted and eradicated azure.

Christian of Orange bears: Argent, an orange tree fructed proper issuant from a mount vert.

Catalina Estevez de Teixeira bears: Quarterly Or and gules, a yew tree eradicated proper.

Mustafa al-Jabal Tariqi bears: Argent, a palm tree couped gules within a bordure sable.

Allendale of the Evergreens bears: Argent, a pine tree proper.

Tala al-Zahra bears: Argent, an olive tree fructed and eradicated and a bordure gules.

Toly Woodsman bears: Per chevron argent and azure, three tree stumps counterchanged.

Mistholme

heraldry, illumination, and random jottings

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