A crampet is the metal ferrule at the tip of a scabbard; it may also be blazoned as a “chape”, “bouterol”, or “boteroll”. Heraldry texts [e.g., Parker 566] show a variety of forms for the crampet, but all have a closed bottom and the upper ends split into two prongs, one of which is bent inward; the illustration is taken from the standard of the Lord de la Warr, c.1520, whose badge it was [Walden 184].
Lillia de Vaux bears: Argent semy of crampets, a bend azure.
A cornice is an architectural feature, consisting of a molded projection from a wall or pillar. As the term is used in the Society, it refers specifically to the molded frame of a decorative window; the period heraldic example, the arms of de Bolonia, mid-15th C. [Triv 64; cf. BSB 270:185, c.1550] depicts a four-lobed quadrate frame consistent with Gothic tracery. See also edifice, foil.
Lyonnette Cheneval bears: Gules, a four lobed quadrate cornice Or.
Alienor de Montserrat bears: Sable, a lily within a four lobed quadrate cornice argent.
Christian Jorgensen af Helsingør bears as a badge: A four-lobed quadrate cornice gules.
A compass rose is a symbol on a map which marks the cardinal points of direction. It consists of a multi-pointed mullet within an annulet, with the point in chief marking north; this point should be accentuated, with a fleur-de-lys being common. Medieval depictions varied widely, but the most common depiction showed a mullet of eight points (as in the illustration); mullets of 4, 12, or 16 points were also found.
Though used in late-period cartography, the compass rose is not found in period heraldry. The illustration is a composite of several examples from 16th Century maps.
The King of Northshield bears: Sable, a compass rose argent within a laurel wreath, in chief an ancient crown Or.
Alexandre sur la Mer bears: Azure, a compass rose argent.
Annetje van Leuven bears as a badge: Ermine, a compass rose vert.
A coffin is a box in which the dead are brought to the cemetery and buried. It’s a period charge, found in the allusive arms (German Leiche, “corpse”) of von Leichnam, 1605 [Siebmacher 156]. The coffin has been registered only twice in Society armory, and in both cases in a six-sided form which is post-period; this form, depicted in the illustration, is no longer acceptable. In theory, a period shape of coffin could be used as a charge, provided it were drawn recognizably; as of this writing, none have been registered. See also chest.
The Baron of Starkhafn bears as a badge: A six-sided coffin palewise sable charged in chief with a mullet of eight points argent.
Tristram Lorenz of the Coffins bears: Sable, a pall between a fleur-de-lys and two coffins palewise argent. [Coffins drawn with six sides]
Cheese is milk curd, pressed into a form and usually allowed to age. Though not a period heraldic charge, cheese is a period foodstuff, and is thus accepted in Society armory.
Cheese has two depictions in Society armory. The “wedge of cheese” is a triangular portion cut from a circular wheel: it’s fesswise, with the wedge’s point to dexter, by default. The “wheel of cheese” is a disc, with a wedge removed. Both the wedge and the wheel of cheese are drawn in trian aspect for readier identification.
Michael Houlihan bears as a badge: Vert, a wedge of Emmental cheese reversed Or.
Hedewig Sophien bears: Azure, a wheel of cheese argent.
A chain is a series of metal links, used for binding or pulling. It is found in the arms of von Bueningen, c.1370 [Gelre 109]. The usual heraldic depiction of chain is with square links, but round-linked chains are found in period; the links’ actual shape is a matter of artistic license. (Indeed, the same effect is often blazoned as, e.g., “annuletsinterlaced in fess”.)
There seems to be no default orientation for chain; it must be specifically blazoned, e.g., a “chain fesswise” as in the illustration. A chain throughout may also be blazoned as an ordinary of chain, e.g., the “saltire of chain” in the arms of Elwett, c.1460 [RH].
In Society heraldry a closed loop of chain is reserved to Knights. See also mail, maily.
The Order of Knighthood bears: A circular chain.
Iris Davidsdaughter bears: Azure, a saltire of chains argent.
Éimhín mac Ultáin bears: Per bend sable and argent, a bend of chain Or.
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.]
A cartouche is an oval or elliptical figure; its default orientation is palewise. It is considered a shape upon which arms may be borne; thus, like the lozenge and escutcheon, when used as a fieldless badge it must not itself be charged. Straight-sided cartouches are found in ancient Egyptian art; more oval cartouches were used for heraldic display [Hope 112]. Both forms have been accepted for Society use. See also egg.
Michael the Dane bears: Gules, on a fess argent a cartouche fesswise gules voided argent.
Axel Bohm bears: Argent estencely sable, a cartouche gules.
Juana Isabella de Montoya y Ramirez bears: Barry engrailed Or and vert, a cartouche pointed in chief and base counterchanged.
A carriage frame is the understructure of a horse-drawn carriage, comprising the wheels, axles, and chassis. It’s a period charge, found in the canting arms of da Carrara, lords of Padua, as early as 1413 [Conz.Const. clviº]. The carriage frame is palewise by default.
Leonarda Maria Carrera bears: Gules, a carriage frame argent.
A caldera gringolada is a charge from Iberian armory, consisting of a stylized cauldron with multiple serpents’ heads issuant from the opening (or the ends of the bail). (The name derives from the same root as the cross gringoly.) It’s a period charge, found in the arms of Pacheco, c.1540 [Nobreza xvii], and appears to be uniquely Iberian.
As an artistic variant, the Society grants no difference between a standard cauldron and a caldera gringolada. For related charges, see pot.
Selene Colfox bears as a badge: A caldera gringolada barry sable and Or, the serpents Or.
Esmeria de Rus bears: Purpure, a caldera gringolada barry Or and sable, the serpents argent.
