Search Results for: harp

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.

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.

Golf club

Golf club (Accepted)

A golf club is a tool used in the game of golf, promoted by the Scots as their revenge on the rest of the world. The club consists of a staff with a flat striking head, used to hit a small, defenseless ball. It’s a period artifact, depicted in a Flemish book of hours (the so-called “Golf Book” by Simon Bening) c.1540; but unsurprisingly, it’s not found in period heraldry.

The golf club has its handle to chief by Society default.

Torquil MacTaggart the Steadfast bears: Vert, two golf clubs crossed in saltire, on a chief rayonny argent three pellets.

Murdoc MacKinnon bears: Vert, on a bend embattled counter-embattled between two golf clubs inverted in saltire and an Irish harp Or, a greatsword sable.

Goad

Elephant goad (probable SFPP); goad (Accepted)

A goad is a sharp pointed stick, used for driving large beasts such as elephants or oxen. There are two types of goad found in Society heraldry; the better documented form, the elephant goad (the dexter charge in the illustration), is an Indian artifact, being a traditional attribute of the god Ganesha. The Society default for both types of goad is palewise, point to chief.

Katherine Goodwyn bears: Argent, a goad fesswise sable entwined of a grapevine fructed proper, between two bars vert between in pale two Catherine wheels sable.

Hastini Chandra bears as a badge: An elephant goad.

Eel-fork

Eel-fork (Period)

Salmon-spear, or eel-spear (Period)

An eel-fork, or eel-spear, is a tool used by fishermen in taking eels. It consists of a multi-tined head with broad, flat points; the shaft is not shown. Examples of the artifact can be found as early as the 16th Century; as a charge, the eel-fork is found in the arms of Stretele or Stratley, c.1413 [DBA2 350; cf. Parker 220]. The illustration is based on a period artifact.

Similar to the eel-fork is the “salmon-spear” or “harping iron”, often shown in armory with a fish transfixed on its tines, as seen in the arms of Ränntl, mid-16th C. [NW 151]. It differs from the eel-fork in that its tines are narrow and barbed, rather like a trident head. (Nonetheless, this form was also, confusingly, blazoned as an “eel-spear” [cf. Guillim1 220]; there seems to have been no consistent distinction between the various forms.)

The eel-fork and its variants have their points to base by default. For related charges, see fork.

Varukh syn Iarygin bears: Per bend sinister argent and vert, four eel-forks conjoined in cross by their bases counterchanged.

Dorothea af Holm bears: Gules, an eel-fork, on a chief argent an eel sable.

Crossbow

Crossbow (Period)

A crossbow is a device for shooting arrows, used in hunting or as a weapon. It is also called an “arbalest”. The crossbow consists of a bow (often of steel) set on a stock, and fired much like a modern firearm. As an heraldic charge, the crossbow dates from at least 1295, in the arms of Huvell [ANA2 247]; it is by default palewise, bow to chief, cocked and ready to shoot.

The arbalest stock alone, without the bow, is also found in period armory, as in the arms of von Iainsen, 1605 [Siebmacher 185]. The arbalest stock is likewise palewise by default. See also arrow.

Brice Armbruster bears: Argent, a crossbow azure.

Robyn the Sharpe bears: Or, a crossbow palewise inverted sable.

Carl of the Crossbow bears: Per chevron azure and Or, a crossbow counterchanged.

Michael de Multon bears as a badge: Per pale sable and argent, two arbalest stocks with triggers outward counterchanged.

Chisel

Stonecutter’s chisel, edge to chief (Accepted); wood chisel (Period)

A chisel is a tool for chipping or carving some surface, consisting of a metal bar with a sharpened edge at one end. It’s a period charge, found in the canting arms of Cheseldene, 1413 [DBA2 401].

Parker [114] says that the stonecutter’s chisel is the default form; however, period rolls [e.g., the Fenwick Roll, temp. Henry VI; Bedingfeld 61] show the wood chisel instead. The exact type should therefore probably be specified. There doesn’t seem to be a default orientation for all chisels; the Society has defined the default for wood chisels to be with their edges to chief. The illustration shows both chisels so drawn. See also awl, graver.

Jón trételgja Ljótsson bears: Sable, three wood chisels argent.

Sigurðr inn danski bears: Or, a wood chisel, blade to chief, sable.

Stiamna mac Martain bears: Vert, four wood chisels bendwise sinister blades to chief two and two Or.

Celtic

The term “Celtic” has been sometimes used in Society blazons to indicate a style of depiction: e.g., a “Celtic hound” would be a hound as drawn in the Book of Kells. The term is thus a direction to the artist, not a variant of type, and carries no heraldic difference; indeed, it’s more commonly not blazoned. Moreover, a charge drawn too strongly in the Kells style may be rendered unidentifiable, and so unacceptable. Two exceptions are the Celtic cross and the Celtic harp.

Sabia Gunnhild Hunang bears: Gules, a Celtic hawk statant close reguardant Or. [The hawk is drawn as in the Lindisfarne Gospels.]

Bag

Bag (Period)

A bag is a cloth or leather container that can be tied shut at the top, used for holding money or other small items. The most common form in Society heraldry may also be blazoned a “drawstring bag”, “sack”, or “pouch”; it is a period charge, found in the canting arms of von Sax, 1413 [Conz.Const. clxx], and of von Montsax, 1605 [Siebmacher 202]. (The prefix “string-” helps differentiate these from the basic “(wool-)bag” or “(pilgrim’s) purse” of mundane heraldry.) The bag is typically drawn filled, as in the illustration; and this is sometimes made explicit in blazon, e.g., “money-bag”.

The Society has a few examples of special-purpose bags, usually identified through context: e.g., a “bag with a harp issuant” may be assumed to be a harp-bag, a protective covering for the harp.

The term “bag” was also used in medieval blazon to denote a bundle of goods sold in commerce; for clarity’s sake, in Society blazon, the contents of the bag are explicitly blazoned, as with the bag of madder. For related charges, see scrip.

The Order of the Winged Pouch, of Insula Draconis, bears: A pouch azure winged Or.

Fabiano Figlio degli Due Sacchi bears: Per pale embattled Or and gules, two sacks, their necks tied with cords, counterchanged.

Anton von Heidelberg bears: Lozengy vert and Or, in pale an owl argent perched atop a drawstring pouch fesswise gules.

Renna of Battersea bears as a badge: A lion-posted harp fesswise reversed argent issuant from a bag erminois, lined vert. [Harp-bag]

Awl

Awl, point to chief (Period)

An awl is a tool for piercing small holes in leather or wood, consisting of a sharp needle mounted in a wooden handle. It’s a period charge, found in the rebus badge of John Alcock, Bishop of Ely (d.1500) [Siddons II.2 331]. The awl’s handle varied in form: the illustration is taken from the Hausbuch der Mendelschen, c.1531 [Amman xli].

The awl has no Society default orientation, but must be explicitly blazoned: e.g., “point to chief” as in the illustration. For related charges, see chisel, graver.

Rudger Nadel bears: Argent, three awls points to chief sable.

Kendrick MacBain bears: Per bend sinister Or and vert, a wooden stick shuttle bendwise sinister proper and an awl bendwise sinister point to base argent.

Wystan Haldane bears: Quarterly Or and azure, an awl, point to base, and a mallet in saltire counterchanged.

Mistholme

heraldry, illumination, and random jottings