Assorted Lessons in SCA Heraldry

On Proper...

Answers to the Quiz

Answers:

Part I: Is it ok to blazon the charge as proper, and if so, what tincture(s) are used?

1. A sword . Yes. Argent and Or.

2. An oak tree . Yes. Vert and brown.

3. A Bengal tiger . Yes. Or with sable stripes.

4. A Dyson's Metalmark butterfly . No. That is too specific.

5. A horse . No. However, a roan horse proper would be ok. But a breed must be specified.

6. A badger . Yes. Sable.

7. A skunk . Yes. Sable and argent.

8. An iris . No. Like a horse, the color must be specified.

9. A stoat in winter phase . No. However, a stoat argent would be acceptable.

10. An ermine . Yes. Argent and sable.

Part two: does the armory use proper appropriately?

1. Vert, a raven proper . No, a raven proper is sable.

2. Argent, a raven proper . Yes.

3. Gules, a sword proper between three plates . Yes.

4. Purpure, two Bengal tigers passant in pale proper. Yes.

5. Or, three martlets proper . No. There is no default color for a martlet.

6. Argent, semy of robins proper, a saltire gules . Yes.

7. Or, a brown bear proper between three snowy owls proper . No, excessive use of proper. Either a brown bear proper or the snowy owls proper would be acceptable. The combination of both is excessive and would be returned. Note: however, snowy owls proper are basically white, and cannot go on an Or background.

8. Per bend nebuly purpure and argent a tree proper . Yes.

9. Vert, a mountain lion crouched as if to pounce proper . No.

10. Gules, a Moluccan cockatoo proper between three roses proper . No. Roses proper are gules.