DOCSLIB.ORG

The Vexilloid Tabloid #31, December 2011

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Vexilloid Tabloid #31, December 2011 Portland Flag Association Publication 1 Portland Flag Association “Free, and Worth Every Penny!” Issue 31 December 2011 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Flag for All Mankind in the 21st Century A Flag for All Mankind 1 By David W. Ferriday Japanese Battle Standards 2 November 2011 Flutterings 4 There are thousands of Remembering John Hood 5 flags representing many Flags in the News 5 different groups of people New Wave: Facts About Flags 6 around the world. The The Flag Quiz 7 United Nations flag and The Seal of the State of Jefferson 8 the Olympic flag are the Next Meeting Announcement 8 most inclusive. But there is, I believe, a need for a www.portlandflag.org flag that represents each and understanding of some of this every one of us, as a member of extremely complex set of factors the human species, and so I have with a flag. designed a flag with that in mind. The specific design is representa- People are divided by race, tive of earth, air, fire, and water religion, nationality, and many (elements found in many historic, other factors large or small. religious, and early scientific Recent developments in science, contexts), as well as the sun—the and concerns for the ecological ultimate source of power for our stability of our planet, have world. brought some people together and pushed others apart. We The colors express these: need to be reminded of our com- earth—black, air—white, mon humanity and our home. fire—red, water—blue, and the sun—yellow. In addition to the Flags appear regularly in the news extremes of black and white are as emblems of our various inter- added the three primary colors. ests and alliances, and are surely a The human race is a race very important means of commu- The particular graphic way in of cowards, and I am not nication and representation. This which I have brought these together in the form a flag are only marching in that is one reason why I have chosen simply my own sense of design. procession but I am to express my feelings and my carrying a banner. If you wish to compliment the interim editor, or to contribute in the future, contact Ted —Mark Twain Kaye at 503-223-4660 or [email protected]. If you wish to complain, call your mother. 2 Portland Flag Association Publication Japanese Battle Standards: Military Communication of Feudal Japan Submitted by Patrick Genna from samurai used their own names or and thus one of the most honor- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ mon rather than that of their lord, able, positions on the field of bat- while other factions, such as the tle. A variety of methods were used Ikkō-ikki, could be identified by to communicate across the bat- banners declaring namu amida Sashimono were small rectangular tlefield in feudal Japan, much like butsu, praising the name of the banners worn on the backs of in any other culture. These Amida Buddha. ashigaru, or common soldiers. methods included visual signals They typically featured the mon of like flags and banners and audi- By the mid-16th century, flags their daimyo or clan, and used col- ble signals using drums and and banners were seen in greater ors to denote units or divisions. horns. Messengers on horseback numbers than ever before, and in used ciphers and other methods an unprecedented variety of to prevent their messages from styles, sizes, shapes and colors. falling into the wrong hands. Where once only higher-ranking By the beginning of the Sengoku samurai and commanders had Period, battlefield communica- standards (flags), now lower- tions had become fairly compli- ranking warriors wore flags to cated affairs, with larger armies denote their unit or division, than ever before, and a multitude along with their clan or lord. of flags and banners covered in a Not only were armies larger than myriad of colors and designs. in the past, but the number of Since the beginnings of what we clans present on any given side in would today recognize as Japa- a battle had increased as well. In nese culture, and probably earlier, any one battle, a single daimyo various symbols, crests, banners, could have under him several or markings on armor were used other daimyo, each with a number of to help identify and distinguish units or divisions, and sub- warriors on the battlefield. commanders, as well as individual samurai of such a reputation (or wealth) as to warrant their own individual banner. Sashimono. This profusion of banners meant that the commanders, especially the daimyo at the head of each side Uma-jirushi (馬印, lit. horse stan- of the battle, had to have espe- dard) were the massive, often three- cially large and noticeable stan- dimensional, banners used to dis- dards to identify their location; tinguish the daimyo or other top warriors needed to know where The mon, or symbol, of a clan or commanders on the battlefield. to rally around, whose orders to a daimyo (above) was particularly While this did wonders for the follow, and what those orders common, identifying which side organization and morale of the were. The role of standard bearer a warrior fought on; some daimyo's troops, it also attracted was one of the most dangerous, the attention of the enemy. Portland Flag Association Publication 3 The horo (母衣)(below) were large pieces of cloth, not entirely unlike a cape or cloak, which would be worn on the back, sup- ported and shaped by a series of bamboo or wooden sticks. In addition to displaying an identify- ing mon or symbol, and making A variety of Uma-Jirushi designs, taken from the 15th century book O Uma Jirushi. For other pages from this book see the collection of Japanese heraldry the samurai appear larger-than- at http://commons.wikimedia.org. life, it served the purpose of arrow entangler. Ultimately, it marked that warrior as someone On the scroll above are depicted important, usually a messenger or uma-jirushi—battle standards set scout, and worthy of honorable up beside a military commander's treatment, even by his enemies. horse to show his position—of 170 soldiers. The illustrations are printed in color and also painted by hand. This scroll is important for marking the origin of multi- color woodblock printing (nishiki- e) in Japan. The sixth volume of this work, which was found only recently, is the only scroll still known to exist. It was created 1624-1644; its Japanese title is 御馬印. Hata-jirushi were one of the older types of standards; they were long streaming banners attached to a Horo. crosspiece and held up on a long A daimyo would often signal with bamboo or wooden rod. his war fan (gunbai or gunpai) as Nobori (幟, lit. flag, banner ) (right) well. While these fans were much are perhaps the best-known of larger than the usual paper or silk feudal Japanese military flags. ones, it seems unlikely that orders Introduced somewhat later than could be conveyed to thousands the hata-jirushi, a nobori was a stiff- or tens of thousands of warriors ened piece of cloth, attached to in this way. a pole through loops, and includ- Saihai were signal batons used by ing, of course, a mon or other samurai commanders, these were identifying mark on it, to repre- small hand-held staffs with strips sent the samurai or daimyo who of leather, lacquered paper, or a carried it. streamer of animal hair on one Nobori. end. 4 Portland Flag Association Publication November 2011 Flutterings You Need to Know In our November meeting, hosted blazon to a graphic representation thanking Max and complimenting generously by Mike Hale, we cov- of the heraldic achievement? him for his able help in develop- ered a lot of territory (a flag lot?). ing it. See page 6 for the correct Max Liberman showed the suite image and description. Scott Mainwaring passed around a of flags that he’d created for his Chinese car-flag attachment he’d own country, the Kingdom of David Ferriday shared more recently picked up on eBay, and Æfira, and presented as a Vexibit about his flag for all humanity— read excerpts from a new book, at the 24th International Congress with primary colors plus black & Christ to Coke, which has a section of Vexillology. white representing earth-air-fire- on the American flag. water and the sun (see page 1). Mike Hale has sold Elmer’s Flag He also showed designs he’d cre- Michael Orelove introduced what & Banner. He briefed us on the ated to commemorate the 7 bil- the U.S. flag would now look like new owner, and showed some of lionth person on the planet, and had the Third flag Act of 1820 not the cotton flags he’s collected, the 8th and 9th billions (below). returned the stripe count to 13: including many U.S. historical a 50-star, 50-stripe flag (below). flags and a few others, including (Continued on page 5) We speculated that the field would the “Jantzen Diving Girl”. look pink from a distance, a form of “American Pink Ensign”, and Ken Dale, in recognition of the wondered how many other flags even of Veteran’s Day 11-11-11, had pink fields. told of his military service and what the holiday meant to him. David Koski brought up a fasci- nating idea—could software be Patrick Genna talked about the developed to translate a heraldic latest version of his personal flag, David Ferriday’s flag for the 7 billion people on the planet (with back- ground representing land and water), and his anticipatory designs for the 8 billion and 9 billion (by the last flag Michael Orelove and his 50-Star, 50-Stripe American Flag the planet will be nearly finished).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Beginner Blazon
    Blazon 101 Arwyn of Leicester White Wyvern Herald Submissions Avacal What we will discuss • Definition – Emblazon vs Blazon • Using Emblazon and Blazons in SCA – Submissions – Conflict Check – Display What we will discuss • How to Build a Blazon – Elements of a blazon – Basic Syntax Rules – How to put it together • Resources (on-line, books) Using Emblazon and Blazons in SCA • Submissions – Emblazon – picture of device/badge • This is what is registered – Proposed Blazon vs. Registered Blazon • Local heralds should attempt at a blazon on the submission (Proposed Blazon) • Laurel gives final blazon (registered) Using Emblazon and Blazons in SCA • Conflict Checks – Blazon is what is listed in the armorial – Allows a visual picture to be developed from the description • Display – Scribes can use this to add colour to scrolls – Providing personal banners How to Build a Blazon • Elements of a Blazon – Tinctures • Colours: – azure (blue) – gules (red) – purpure (purple) – sable (black) – vert (green) • Metals: – Or (gold) – Argent (white/silver) How to Build a Blazon • Elements of a Blazon – Tinctures • Furs – Ermine (white with black spots) – Ermines (also called counter ermine –black with white spots) – Erminois (gold with black spots) – Pean (black with gold spots) – Vair (interlocking "bells" alternately white and blue) – Potent (interlocking "T's" alternately white and blue) How to Build a Blazon • Elements of a Blazon – Ordinaries • An ordinary is a charge that consists of one or more strips of a contrasting tincture which cover large areas of the shield. • Examples: – Base – Bordure – Canton – Chief – Pile – Bend How to Build a Blazon • Elements of a Blazon – Directions • Remember that the directions are like you wearing the shield – then the Norman French makes sense • to base (= toward the bottom point of the shield) • to chief (= toward the top edge of the shield) • to dexter (= toward the viewer's left, the shield bearers right) • to sinister (= toward the viewer's right, the shield bears left) How to Build a Blazon • Basic Syntax Rules 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Flags and Banners
    Flags and Banners A Wikipedia Compilation by Michael A. Linton Contents 1 Flag 1 1.1 History ................................................. 2 1.2 National flags ............................................. 4 1.2.1 Civil flags ........................................... 8 1.2.2 War flags ........................................... 8 1.2.3 International flags ....................................... 8 1.3 At sea ................................................. 8 1.4 Shapes and designs .......................................... 9 1.4.1 Vertical flags ......................................... 12 1.5 Religious flags ............................................. 13 1.6 Linguistic flags ............................................. 13 1.7 In sports ................................................ 16 1.8 Diplomatic flags ............................................ 18 1.9 In politics ............................................... 18 1.10 Vehicle flags .............................................. 18 1.11 Swimming flags ............................................ 19 1.12 Railway flags .............................................. 20 1.13 Flagpoles ............................................... 21 1.13.1 Record heights ........................................ 21 1.13.2 Design ............................................. 21 1.14 Hoisting the flag ............................................ 21 1.15 Flags and communication ....................................... 21 1.16 Flapping ................................................ 23 1.17 See also ...............................................
    [Show full text]
  • Heraldic Achievement of MOST REVEREND NELSON J
    Heraldic Achievement of MOST REVEREND NELSON J. PEREZ Tenth Archbishop of Philadelphia Per pale: dexter, argent on a pile azure a mullet in chief of the field, overall on a fess sable three plates each charged with a cross throughout gules; sinister, per fess azure and chevronny inverted azure and Or, in chief a Star of Bethlehem argent and in base a mound Or, over all on a fess sable fimbriated argent, a Paschal Lamb reguardant, carrying in the dexter forelimb a palm branch Or and a banner argent charged with a Cross gules In designing the shield — the central element in what is formally called the heraldic achievement — an archbishop has an opportunity to depict symbolically various aspects of his own life and heritage, and to highlight aspects of Catholic faith and devotion that are important to him. The formal description of a coat of arms, known as the blazon, uses a technical language, derived from medieval French and English terms, which allows the appearance and position of each element in the achievement to be recorded precisely. An archbishop shows his commitment to the flock he shepherds by combining his personal coat of arms with that of the archdiocese, in a technique known as impaling. The shield is divided in half along the pale or central vertical line. The arms of the archdiocese appear on the dexter side — that is, on the side of the shield to the viewer’s left, which would cover the right side (in Latin, dextera) of the person carrying the shield. The arms of the archbishop are on the sinister side — the bearer’s left, the viewer’s right.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Scottish Heraldry Viscount Dunrossil Chairman, Society of Scottish Armigers
    Introduction to Scottish Heraldry Viscount Dunrossil Chairman, Society of Scottish Armigers Saturday, January 26, 13 Why should we care? • 1. Illustrated, colorful history • 2. As Scots at Games etc. we use it all the time, on clan badges, cofee mugs, jewelry etc. Might as well get it right and know what we’re doing. • 3. Part of everyday life even for non- Scots, of what many men in particular care most about Saturday, January 26, 13 Sports rivalries Saturday, January 26, 13 Saturday, January 26, 13 Arms of City of Manchester Saturday, January 26, 13 Elements of heraldry in sports • Shield, design e.g. Dallas Cowboys’ Star • Color: crimson tide, burnt orange, maize and blue • Supporters in livery! • Motto, slogan: Roll Tide, Superbia in Proelio Saturday, January 26, 13 Historical origins • Knights in battle, craving distinction, honor, in classic “shame culture” • Jousting competition: need for recognition. • Role of heralds evolving from messengers to introductions to keepers of logs and registers to arbiters and granters of arms. Saturday, January 26, 13 The Lord Lyon King of Arms • England has three (Garter, Clarenceaux and Norroy and Ulster), Scotland just one King of Arms, one ultimate authority • Unlike English Kings of Arms, who need permission from Earl Marshall, Lyon can grant arms himself • Keeps Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland • Junior ofcer of State. Judge with own court and right to rule on all matters relating to Scottish heraldry, impose fines, imprison etc. Saturday, January 26, 13 Arms of Lyon Sellar
    [Show full text]
  • [Flags of Europe]
    Flags of Europe Item Type Book Authors McGiverin, Rolland Publisher Indiana State University Download date 06/10/2021 08:52:56 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10484/12199 Flag Flags of Europe: A Bibliography Rolland McGiverin Indiana State University 2016 i Contents Country 14 Flags of Europe: Andorra 15 European Union 1 Country 15 NATO 1 Andorra la Vella 15 European Contenant 1 Parish 15 Armed forces 6 Armenia 15 Merchant marine 9 Country 15 Navy 10 Asti 17 Abkhazia 11 Country 17 Partially Recognized State 11 Austria 17 Adjara 12 Country 17 Autonomous Republic in Georgia 12 Nagorno-Karabakh 19 Region 19 Aland 12 Autonomous part of Finland 12 Austro-Hungarian Empire 19 Political 12 Country 19 Ethnic 19 Albania 13 Navy 19 Country 13 Belarus 20 Alderney 13 Country 20 British Crown dependency 13 Air Force 21 Amalfi Republic 13 Armed forces 21 Country 13 Ethnic 21 Armed forces 14 Government 22 Ethnic 14 Azerbaijan 22 Political 14 Country 22 Tirana 14 Ethnic 22 County 14 Political 23 Cities and towns 14 Talysh-Mughan 23 Region 23 Anconine Republic 14 Grodno 23 ii Region 23 Cospaia, Republic 33 Barysaw 24 Country 33 Gomel 24 Krasnasielski 24 Croatia 33 Smarhon 24 Country 33 Hrodna 24 Region 24 Ethnic 33 Dzyatlava 24 Karelichy 24 Cyprus 34 Minsk 25 Country 34 Region 25 North Cyprus 34 Minsk 25 Nicosia 34 Mogilev 25 Czech Republic 34 Belgium 25 Country 34 Country 25 Cities and Towns 35 Armed forces 26 Prague 35 Ethnic 27 Czechoslovakia 35 Labor 27 Country 35 Navy 28 Armed forces 37 Political 28 Cities and Towns 37 Religion 29 Ethnic 38 Provinces
    [Show full text]
  • Heraldry for Beginners
    The Heraldry Society Educational Charity No: 241456 HERALDRY Beasts, Banners & Badges FOR BEGINNERS Heraldry is a noble science and a fascinating hobby – but essentially it is FUN! J. P. Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald, 1970 www.theheraldrysociety.com The Chairman and Council of the Heraldry Society are indebted to all those who have made this publication possible October 2016 About Us he Heraldry Society was founded in 1947 by John P. Brooke-Little, CVO, KStJ, FSA, FSH, the Tthen Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms and ultimately, in 1995, Clarenceux King of Arms. In 1956 the Society was incorporated under the Companies Act (1948). By Letters Patent dated 10th August 1957 the Society was granted Armorial Bearings. e Society is both a registered non-prot making company and an educational charity. Our aims The To promote and encourage the study and knowledge of, and to foster and extend interest in, the Heraldry Society science of heraldry, armory, chivalry, precedence, ceremonial, genealogy, family history and all kindred subjects and disciplines. Our activities include Seasonal monthly meetings and lectures Organising a bookstall at all our meetings Publishing a popular newsletter, The Heraldry Gazette, and a more scholarly journal, The Coat of Arms In alternate years, oering a residential Congress with speakers and conducted visits Building and maintaining a heraldry archive Hosting an informative website Supporting regional Societies’ initiatives Our Membership Is inclusive and open to all A prior knowledge of heraldry is not a prerequisite to membership, John Brooke-Little nor is it necessary for members to possess their own arms. e Chairman and Council of the Heraldry Society The Society gratefully acknowledges the owners and holders of copyright in the graphics and images included in this publication which may be reproduced solely for educational purposes.
    [Show full text]
  • Heraldry in Game of Thrones
    genealogy Article The Shields that Guard the Realms of Men: Heraldry in Game of Thrones Mat Hardy School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Education, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia; [email protected] Received: 12 October 2018; Accepted: 6 November 2018; Published: 12 November 2018 Abstract: The vast popularity of the Game of Thrones franchise has drawn a new and diverse audience to the fantasy genre. Within the pseudo-medieval world created by G.R.R. Martin, a great deal of detail has gone into establishing coats of arms for the characters and families that are depicted. These arms fulfill an extremely important role, both within the arc of the story and as part of the marketing collateral of this very successful series. This article examines the role of arms in the Game of Thrones universe and explores how the heraldic system transcends the usual genealogical display and functions more as a type of familial branding. An exploration of some of the practices and idiosyncrasies of heraldry in the franchise shows that whilst Martin sets his foundation firmly in the traditional, he then extends this into the fanciful; in much the same manner as he does with other faux-historical aspects of his work. This study is valuable because Game of Thrones has brought heraldry from being a niche interest to something that is now consumed by a global audience of hundreds of millions of people. Several of the fantasy blazons in the series are now arguably the most recognisable coats of arms in history. Keywords: Game of Thrones; A Song of Ice and Fire; heraldry; blazonry; fantasy; G.R.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Heraldry: How to Create Your Arms the Sword Conservatory, Inc. (TSC) Glossary Tinctures
    Heraldry: How to Create Your Arms The Sword Conservatory, Inc. (TSC) Heraldic Arms - a pattern of colors and objects – were first created in order to identify knights on the battlefield, whose identities would otherwise have been concealed by their armor & helm. Originally, each knight would have different heraldry, so you could tell which individual you were looking at. So, the heraldry that a knight used was a description of who he was: brave, rich, loyal, etc. Only later did individual heraldic arms become associated with a family which was passed down from one generation to the next. At TSC, we create heraldic arms that says who we are as individuals, just like the original knights. And just like the original knights, every one of our heraldries must be different. So, when you have a design, it must be approved to make sure that no other knight already has heraldry that is the same (or very close) to yours. This guide will tell you about how heraldry is created: the colors, patterns, and some rules. If you do further reading, you will find more patterns and many, many more rules. Don't worry about them! (Unless you want to.) Over it's 900 year history, heraldry has become extremely complex. We just need to worry about the basics, which are more in keeping with what the early knights would have used. Glossary • Blazon – A written description of a heraldic arms . It uses medieval French to "paint a picture" with words. If you know how to understand a Blazon, you can picture it in your head.
    [Show full text]
  • Vexillum, December 2018, No. 4
    Research and news of the North American Vexillological Association December 2018 No. Recherche et nouvelles de l’Association nord-américaine de vexillologie Décembre 2018 4 INSIDE Page Incorporating NAVA News and Flag Research Quarterly Editor’s Note 2 President’s Column 3 NAVA 52: Celebrating Les Drapeaux in Québec City 4 List of NAVA 52 presentations 6 Flag Design Merci Beaucoup 6 “Rules” NAVA 52 image montage 6 12 New Arms and Flags for Yale 8 The Ralph Spence Flag Collection 9 New Flags: Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Lessons from American City Metairie, Louisiana 10 Flag Design "Rules" 12 Flag Redesign Efforts Lessons from American City 18 Flag Redesign Efforts 18 NAVA 52 attendees and group photo 24 Raven—Call for Papers NAVA Election Results NAVA 52: Celebrating Raven 25 • Vatican Flags 24 Les Drapeaux in Québec City 4 Top: Flag of South Africa. Source: shutterstock.com Right: View of the Old City from the Citadelle. Source: Ted Kaye 2 | December 2018 • Vexillum No. 4 December / Décembre 2018 Number 4 / Numéro 4 Editor’s Note | Note de la rédaction NAVA is a non-political organization. That means that the association, regardless of the opinions of our officers and members, refrains from advocating on behalf of or against Research and news of the North American Vexillological Association / Recherche et any candidates or issues—even those related to flags. While our status as a 501(c)(3) nouvelles de l’Association nord-américaine organization merely prevents us from participating in political campaigns of individual de vexillologie. Published quarterly / Publié candidates, the association has a long tradition of refraining from any political activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Clallam County Road Department Integrated Weed Management Plan
    BIOLOGICAL CLALLAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT PHYSICAL INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2021 CHEMICAL CULTURAL PREVENTATIVE FRIENDLY POLLINATOR 2021 Table of Contents CLALLAM COUNTY INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................. 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5 Why Control Noxious and Invasive Weeds? ............................................................................... 6 Integrated Weed Management ...................................................................................................... 7 Choosing Control Methods ............................................................................................................ 7 The IWM Decision-Making Process ............................................................................................... 8 BIOLOGICAL WEED CONTROL ...................................................................................................... 9 Roadside Application ..................................................................................................................... 9 PHYSICAL WEED CONTROL ....................................................................................................... 11 Roadside Application ................................................................................................................... 12 CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL ......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Blazon and Explanation of the Coat of Arms of the Most Reverend
    Blazon and Explanation of the Coat of Arms of the Most Reverend Luis Miguel Romero Fernández, M.Id., DD Titular Bishop of Egara and Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre BLAZON: Per fess Gules and Argent; a bar wavy composed of two troughs and one wave per fess Argent & Azure, with the upper edge invected of one point and the middle division line engrailed of one point with the lower edge of the bar dovetailed of a single point at the center; in chief, flanked by two escallop shells Argent, the insignia of the Idente Missionaries Proper (a plate fimbriated Or on which is depicted the lower case letters “i” surmounted by a flame Gules and “d’, both Or with a Latin cross Gules between them); in base three roses on the stem issuant in base Gules, barbed and stemmed Vert, seeded Or. Shield ensigned with an episcopal cross Or behind the shield and a bishop’s galero Vert cords and twelve tassels disposed in three rows of one, two and three all Vert. On a scroll below the shield the motto, “Meek And Humble of Heart”. EXPLANATION: The coat of arms assumed by Bishop Romero reflects his Religious Community, the diocese in which he serves, his previous ministry and his heritage. The colors used in this coat of arms are primarily red, white and blue, the national colors of the United States because the bishop wishes to honor the country in which he now lives and serves as both a priest and bishop. The main charge, or feature, across the middle of the shield is a bar specifically shaped to suggest an open book with the blue lower portion representing the binding and spine of the book and the white upper portion suggesting the pages.
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to Blazonry
    A GUIDE TO BLAZONRY Kevin Greaves Illustrated by Steve Cowan and Gordon Macpherson Published by The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada Copyright Page © 2014 The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and K.W. Greaves A GUIDE TO BLAZONRY PREFACE Blazon is the language of heraldry. Its intent is to provide a description in words of a coat of arms so that an experienced heraldic artist can produce an accurate picture of the arms. Although it may be archaic in form, it can describe an achievement much more precisely than can ordinary language. The objective of the heraldic blazon is to be clear and concise. While there may be more than one set of words available to create a proper blazon, an heraldic artist should be able to draw the achievement from the words of the blazon and the guidance of the artist should be the primary intent in all cases. While a concise, neatly worded blazon can be a source of satisfaction, clever wording should never replace clarity of meaning. This handbook is intended to provide the heraldic enthusiast with a single correct way to blazon a given achievement, not two or three alternatives, no matter how correct. It is not intended as a guide to heraldic design. Also, it is assumed that the student has done the necessary homework on shields, ordinaries, charges, etc, and that what is required here is a guide to describing them in proper form and sequence. Kevin Greaves November, 2014 A GUIDE TO BLAZONRY CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE 1 The Shield, Sequence of Blazoning 1 2 The Complex Field 6 3 Blazoning Charges on the Field 10 4 Counterchanging 15 5 Multi-Family Shields 17 6 The Crest and its Associated Features 20 7 Supporters, Compartment and Motto 24 8 Badges and Flags 27 CHAPTER 1 THE SHIELD SEQUENCE OF BLAZONING Since the shield is the most important and, in most cases, the most complex part of an achievement of arms, we will start off by describing the sequence in which its various components are normally described in a blazon.
    [Show full text]