APPROVALS ­1­ 28 August 1984, A.S. XIX

THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE APPROVED:

Kingdom of Ansteorra

Alcuin of Threckingham. Per bend azure and gules, a cross couped and a cup argent.

Ansteorra, Kingdom of (change of arms). Or, a mullet of five greater and five lesser points sable within a laurel wreath vert, in chief a crown of three points, all within a tressure sable.

NOTE: There was some question as to whether or not the College of Arms had been given sufficient opportunity to cement on this change. It appeared as a footnote to the emblazons in the LoI, without a blazon or picture, and as such was likely to be overlooked. We concluded that there were unlikely to be any stylistic objections to the change, and we could find no conflicts, so we approved it. In the future, please prepare a separate addendum to the letter of intent, giving the blazon (and if possible the emblazon), or else place a note in the body of the LoI calling attention to the addition.

Ansteorra, Kingdom of (badge for Clothier's Guild). Sable, a needle, point in base, Or threaded argent, between in pale two pairs of open scissors, the upper inverted, conjoined at the points argent.

NOTE: According to Master Wilhelm, we have been using the term scissors in order to distinguish this charge from the more conventional heraldic shears (Parker 614). The shape is period; see The Book of Trades, "The Embroiderer" (P. 33) and "The Tailor" (p. 53).

Aodhagan O Caoimh (badge; name change from Egan O'Keefe). Vert, on a pile azure fimbriated argent an African leopard's face Or.

Armilda of Lydia (name only; see RETURNS for badges).

Arrowyn of Emerald Moor. Sable, a mullet of eight points, each point terminating in a shamrock, in chief a crown fleury Or, all within a bordure potenty quarterly argent and vert.

NOTE: The slips of the shamrocks should actually be conjoined to the points of the mullet. DISCUSSION: The recommendation of the meeting was that we blazon the charge as a coronet. On further investigation, I found that Master Wilhelm's rulings of 15 May 1980 and 22 August 1982 specifically use the word crown, and that we have used the term in a number of registered blazons.

Daoud ibn Auda. (badge) Per bend sinister argent and azure, an apple gules, slipped and leaved proper.

Edward of Tatham. Argent, two brown bears combattant proper maintaining a roundel erminois pierced by a sword inverted azure.

Elana Blakefean. (name only; see RETURNS for device).

Eldred Talen Godwinson. Per pale Or and vert, three chevronels counterchanged, overall a double­bitted axe palewise sable.

DISCUSSION: This submission differs from the badge of ULRIC VON RAVENSWAY, "Or, a double­bitted bearded axe sable" (SCA), by a minor point for the field (the line of partition is obscured by the axe) and a major point for the addition of the chevronels.

Geoffrey Cathan. (name only; see RETURNS for device).

Hildebrand von Tiel. Per bend sable and Or, a sword bendwise inverted throughout between six compass stars, one and two, and two and one, all counterchanged. NOTE: The arrangement of the mallets is not particularly good style. Medieval convention would be to arrange the charges in chief two and one, and those in base in bend (when depicted on a heater).

Ian McIvor. (name only; see RETURNS for device).

Karlanna of Applecross Woods. Vert, a butterfly Or, marked gules, in base a double thistle argent.

NOTE: In period, the name would probably have been Karla Anna. DISCUSSION: This is sufficiently different from MELISA WORDSMITH, "Vert, a Blue Mountain butterfly (Papilio ulysses) bendwise displayed proper, within a bordure Or." (SCA) The butterfly shown in Melisa's emblazon is sable, marked azure.

Kathleen of Seamist. Per bend sinister wavy Or and azure, a mermaid erect affronty and three escallops inverted in bend sinister counterchanged.

NOTE: The disposition of the mermaid's hair is a matter of artistic license, and so is not blazoned. According to Master Wilhelm, it is not period style, since it shows motion.

Liam Oge of Cocraig. (name only).

Macsen ap Rhys. Sable, a spray of three pawlonia leaves, blossomed to chief, and on a chief argent two increscents sable.

NOTE: This kind of combination of elements from two distinctly different cultures is something we should be discouraging. The pawlonia leaf is a charge from Japanese heraldry.

Maili Donnel MacGregor. (name only; see RETURNS for device).

NOTE: According to Mistress Eriod, Mail(l)i is a pet form of Maire.

Marcus de Clermont. (badge) Per fess embattled gules and argent, in pale an eagle's head erased to sinister and an eagle's head erased inverted counterchanged.

NOTE: The consensus of the meeting was that the eagle's head inverted was acceptable, although it is poor practice. Karina of the Far West noted in June of 1979 that "an animate charge should be 'in its noblest attitude'," which inverted is not.

Michael of Kendal. Per fess counter­ermine and gules, three chevronels rompu braced throughout argent.

NOTE: Very striking. DISCUSSION: This is sufficiently different from MATHEWS, "Gules, three chevronels braced argent" (Papworth 549). I am willing to allow a full point for difference of field (because of the line of partition and the addition of the ermine tails), and half a point for the modifications to the chevronels (which are rompu as well as throughout).

Micheal Sacristain. Sable, a chevron indented between three maunches Or.

NOTE: Excellent heraldry, although the indentations on the chevron should be larger. DISCUSSION: This is sufficiently different from ALARICE NIC THAOITEARAIN, "Sable, a chevron invected between an owl close to sinister guardant, a griffith sejant and a rose Or, barbed vert." (SCA) Changing the chevron from invected to indented is worth a full point (especially if the chevron is properly indented), as is replacing one set of secondary charges with another.

Omar Abdul ben Akbar. Vert, a Turkish shamshir fesswise reversed, edge to base, distilling from its point three gouttes Or.

NOTE: The sword should be drawn much larger.

Petros the Unmerciful. (name only; see RETURNS for device).

Seamus of the Cats. (name only; see RETURNS for device).

Shimizu Ariko. Argent, a three­leaved sprig of bamboo inverted between in fess two butterflies composed of bamboo leaves displayed respectant conjoined at the wingtips sable.

Thorvald Halfdanarson (submitted as Thorvald Halfdanerson). Azure, on a fess Or between two broad axes fesswise blades to base argent, a boar's head erased close sable.

NOTE: According to Batonvert, the Old Norse patronymic would be spelled Halfdanarson. Since it appears that the applicant wishes to use the Old Norse form of the name (as opposed to an anglicized form), I have changed the e to an a.

Ulrich der Blaurabe (submitted as Ulrich das Blaurabe). Argent, a fess azure fretty argent between a raven close azure and a weaver's shuttle fesswise proper, threaded gules.

NOTE: According to Brigantia, both Blau and Rabe are masculine in gender, so the masculine article der should be used instead of the neuter form das. Mistress Cynthia concurs. The frets should be fewer and larger, and the fess should be delineated in azure to ensure that there is sufficient contrast with the argent field. The charge in base is a weaver's shuttle; see Parker, p. 613.

William Oswulfson of Burnham. (name only).

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Aithne Luighseach Daráithne (name only; see RETURNS for device).

NOTE: Daráithne is a given name, not a metronymic; "daughter of Aithne" would be nic Aithne (assuming it doesn't aspirate). This is acceptable, although the metronymic form would be more in keeping with what we understand to be period practice.

Andria von den Wellen (submitted as Arachne von die Wellen). Azure, in fess two spiders and on a chief invected argent a spider sable.

NOTE: The consensus was that the name Arachne, which appears to be associated uniquely with the character from Greek mythology, should not be used in conjunction with spiders. In order to register the device, we have substituted the submitter's mundane given name; she is entitled to a free name change if she wishes. According to Mistress Cynthia, von takes the dative, which in this case is den, not die, The spiders should be drawn with two body divisions (not three), and with the legs in a more conventional arrangement (two legs forward, two legs backward).

Azuria, Shire of. Per chevron azure mullety argent and Or, a laurel wreath azure.

NOTE: The mullets should be fewer, larger, and more regularly spaced. Pretty and simple.

Donal MacMurtrie. (name only; see RETURNS for device).

Gabrianne de la Montagne. Argent, two bendlets wavy between a sun and a lighted torch, all within a bordure sable.

NOTE: In period, the name would probably have been Gabrielle Anne.

Giovanni di Sienna. Or, a cross voided sable surmounted by a rose gules barbed and seeded proper between two goblets in bend sinister gules.

Gunwaldt Gullbjorn. (badge for the House of Gullbjorn). A bear passant reguardant Or maintaining in his dexter forepaw a torch gules enflamed Or.

NOTE: A nice, simple, period badge.

Haakon Haukarson. Argent, a winged wolf passant, wings elevated and addorsed, on a chief triangular sable an aurochs skull argent.

Loch Salann, Barony of. (badge for Clan Shiotani). Argent, a shrimp embowed, in base two mountains wreathed with mist sable.

NOTE: The mist was changed from argent to sable, with the consent of representatives of the clan, so it would show up against the argent field. This is complex for a mon. DISCUSSION: There was some question as to whether or not it was appropriate to register a clan badge to an SCA branch. We learned from the heralds at the Symposium that Clan Shiotani is a special­interest group (sort of a "Japanese Guild"), with the local baron as the implied ceremonial head. The Clan is not a personal household, and it is conceptually no more outre than, say, a company of archers; as such, it appears to fall well within our rules.

Michael von Essen. (submitted as Michael die Zauberzunge von Essen; see RETURNS for device).

NOTE: Much concern was voiced at the Symposium over die Zauberzunge 'the magic­tongued'. I have no personal objections to the term and feel that we are probably overreacting, but I would like to make sure. Perhaps one of the German professors at UNM could provide him with information on the likely connotations of Zauber in this context. END OF APPROVALS.


RETURNS ­5­ 28 August 1984, A.S. XIX

THE FOLLOWING ARE RETURNED TO THE SUBMITTER:

Kingdom of Ansteorra

Armilda of Lydia. (two badges). Or, the letter A sable. Sable, the letter L Or. NOTE: The consensus of the College of Arms was that a single letter of the alphabet may not be registered as a personal badge. To quote Batonvert, "We cannot protect single letters, since anyone has the right to use his or her initials without regard to conflict. Since we cannot protect them, we should not register them."

Elana Blakefenn. Gyronny vert and ermine, a cat couchant sable.

NOTE: This infringes upon CARE­CHERI OF THE FALLEN STARS, "Gyronny gules and ermine, a domestic cat dormant to sinister sable." (SCA) The difference in position of the cat is a major point, but changing the tincture of the solid half of the field is only a minor point.

Geoffrey Cathan. Azure, a lion couchant to sinister within an annulet argent charged with eight roses gules, barbed and seeded proper.

NOTE: This is too close to THOMAS LONGSHANKS, "Azure, a lion dormant to sinister and a chief arched argent." (SCA) Although Geoffrey's annulet is distinguishable from a chaplet of roses (a chaplet is a ring of roses joined by foliage, not a circle with roses on it), he should probably be warned of the similarity.

Ian McIvor. Or, on a bend azure between two thistles slipped and leaved proper, a triple­towered castle palewise argent.

NOTE: The submission was beautifully drawn. Unfortunately, it infringes upon DONNCHADH CAMERON THE UNFORGIVEN, "Or, on a bend gules between two thistles, slipped and leaved, proper a shepherd's crook Or." (SCA) I count a major point for the tincture of the bend, and a minor point for the tertiary charge. According to Master Wilhelm, it is sometimes possible to combine three distinct changes to a group of tertiary charges to get a full point of difference. In the present case, a difference in number (added to the differences in type and color) would be sufficient.

Maili Donnel MacGregor. Azure, a chevron between two roses and a pegasus couchant to sinister, wings elevated and addorsed, argent.

NOTE: This conflicts with BEORN COLLENFERTH, "Azure, a chevron between a harp, an axe reversed and a sabre­toothed tiger statant argent" (SCA), and with PRENTISSE, "Azure, a chevron between three roses argent." (Papworth 423).

Petros the Unmerciful. Purpure, a chevron Or between three dexter fists aversant, thumbs to base, argent.

NOTE: This conflicts with THALASSA ILON OF SOILKA, "Purpure, a chevronel Or between in chief two scimitars fesswise conjoined at the point proper and in base a flamed tulip proper." (SCA) In addition, the College felt that a fist "thumbs down" was not an acceptable heraldic charge: it is difficult to recognize, the position does not seem to be heraldic, and the combination has strong enough negative connotations to make it an undesirable element of a coat of arms.

Sabia Gunnhild Hunang. (badge). Gules, a Celtic reindeer statant reguardant argent.

NOTE: This is too close to BOIS, "Gules, a stag statant argent collared and chained Or," and JONES, "Gules, a stag standing at gaze argent attired Or." (Papworth 59) According to Mistress Eowyn Amberdrake, this sort of treatment of the reindeer's antlers is found in Celtic illumination.

Seamus of the Cats. Azure, a bend sinister between a tyger rampant and a lion rampant to sinister Or.

NOTE: This conflicts with BIAIR DUBOIS, "Azure, a bend sinister between a cat sejant guardant and a dove close Or." (SCA).

Thordis Hakonardottir. Argent, on a bend.azure between two crosses gurgitee gules, three battleaxes palewise argent.

NOTE: The name infringes upon that of THORA HAAKONSDOTTIR, approved at the meeting of 12 August 1984. The device is too close to ANGELITA DE CABALLO RUBIO, "Argent, on a bend azure between two horses' heads erased voided gules a heart palewise argent." (SCA) Replacement of the secondary charges is a full point, and the change in type and number of the tertiary charges is an additional minor point. The cross gurgitee was defined in October 1976 as "a new, heraldic name for an ancient solar symbol." It occurs in the arms and badge of GWYNNETH SANQUEBARR.

Thorgard the Black. Sable, a bend sinister between issuant from chief a dragon's head and neck bendwise sinister and issuant from dexter base a serpent's tail bendwise sinister argent.

NOTE: Wrapping the Midgard Serpent around one's shield is not, to the best of our knowledge, consistent with either mundane or Society heraldic practice. The submission is also in conflict with SIGURD GREYWULFE, "Sable, a bend sinister between a wolf rampant to sinister and an axe bendwise sinister embrued proper" (SCA) and others.

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Aithne Luighseach Dar'aithne. Gyronny azure and argent, eight borage flowers in annulo within a bordure, all counterchanged.

NOTE: This infringes upon EDMUND PETHLTON, "Gyronny, argent and azure, each argent gyron charged with a cross crosslet fitchy vert, and a bordure counterchanged." (SCA).

Donal MacMurtrie. Per chevron gules and ermine, on a chief embattled argent a demi­sun issuant from chief gules.

NOTE: The consensus was that a demi­sun issuant from chief, on a chief, did not appear to be period style. The convention is to have a demi­sun issuant from a part of the field.

Michael von Essen. Sable, a cross throughout enhanced to sinister chief gules, fimbriated Or in dexter base a cobra coiled and erect affronty Or.

NOTE: The combination of the displaced cross and the fimbriation represents two departures from convention. While either might be acceptable by itself (the position of the cobra is such that it balances the cross, and the cross is a simple enough charge to be fimbriated), the combination is doubtful. Please ask him to reconsider.