The Russian firebird is a fabulous bird from Russian folklore, whose feathers shine with light even when plucked. It has strong parallels with the simurgh of Persian legend; indeed, given the similarities between the 19th Century Russian story of the prince Ivan and the firebird, and the 13th Century Persian story of the prince Isfandiyar and the simurgh, it would seem that the Russian firebird was a direct borrowing. Certainly we have no evidence of the firebird (even in legend) before the 18th Century. For this reason, the Russian firebird is no longer permitted to be registered; those already registered are considered a step from period practice.
All the Society’s examples of firebirds have the wings spread: volant, displayed, &c. The illustration shows a Russian firebird volant bendwise. For related charges, see peacock, phoenix.
Tatiana Ivanovna bears: Azure, a Russian firebird displayed Or, crested and its six tail feathers each charged with a heart gules.
Krzysia Wanda Kazimira bears: Or, a Russian firebird volant gules, a bordure sable.
Giulietta da Venezia bears: Per saltire purpure and sable, a Russian firebird volant bendwise argent.
A cradle is a small bed or cot on rockers, for lulling an infant to sleep. Though a period artifact, it does not seem to have been used as an heraldic charge. The cradle took many forms in period; the illustration is based on an illumination in the Hours of Catherine of Cleves, c.1440 [fo.52]. The cradle’s default orientation in Society armory is in profile (or slight trian aspect), with the “head-pillow” end to dexter.
Period armory gives us examples of the “bassinet”, a broad shallow wicker basket for bedding infants. The bassinet is shown containing a swaddled infant, as in the crest of the Earls of Derby, mid-15th C. [HCE xxvii]. See also Roman dining couch.
Gloria Kirkhouse of Tain bears: Gules, on a cradle Or two towers sable, all within a bordure Or.
Abigail of Lorraine bears: Azure, a cradle within an orle of thimbles Or.
Eẃa of Coppertree bears: Vert, a bassinet containing a baby swaddled Or, a ford proper.
A basket is a small container of woven cane or straw, with a handle for carrying. The unqualified term refers to a generic round hand-basket; this form is found in the arms of Lyttylborne or Littleborn, c.1480 [DBA1 106; Parker 45; Bedingfeld 58]. Medieval heraldry has also the “bread-basket”, a two-handled basket filled with breadloaves, as found in the arms of Milton or Middleton Abbey, 1405 [DBA1 106, Parker 46]. For related charges, see fan (winnowing). See also urinal.
Morwydd Fyngwen bears: Azure, a basket Or, in chief three snowflakes argent.
Caterina Leonora de Forza d’Agro bears: Or, a round-bottomed basket within a bordure vert.
Lisabetta Bartholomea Zanca bears: Per pale gules and azure, a handbasket and a base Or.
The allocamelus is an heraldic monster described as having the head of an ass and a body with a camel’s hump; it’s sometimes called an “ass-camel” in the heraldic literature, and may be a period attempt to describe a llama. Its sole period instance is as the crest of the Eastland Company, 1579, used without authority [Dennys 147]. The allocamelus is nonetheless permissible for Society use.
There doesn’t seem to be a default posture for the allocamelus; the illustration shows an allocamelus statant.
Myfanwy ferch Rhiannon bears as a badge: An allocamelus passant purpure charged with an escallop argent.
