Comet

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Illustrations:

Period sources:

	https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/1509966_10204833134042545_791231344586429639_n.jpg?oh=bf95710a28520b98ad9bb7f939ba77d2&oe=55E171BB
BSB275, Insignia nobilium Patavinorum..., Italian 1550-55, f65r, comets, mount, vert on azure	Siebmacher 1605, plate 219, Colmar, comet

https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10423695_1042261925801222_6095477761693337185_n.jpg?oh=5597d6a010432245d74a215393ce049a&oe=55A2CC2F

Iberian and Italian comets. FB image courtesy of Gunnvor silfrahar.

Modern Sources:

Pictorial Dictionary, 3rd edition:

• Comet

Vector Graphics:

• Viking Answer Lady - http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/Stars/Heraldry_SVG_Images/index.htm

Mullet-headed

Comet

Pennsic Traceable Art Project:

• Comet

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Precedents:

Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents.html

Morsulus Heralds Website - http://www.morsulus.org/]] (to search the LoARs and Precedents)

Restatement Wiki - http://yehudaheraldry.com/restatement/index.php?title=Main_Page]] (restatements of Precedents)

Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.

Definition:

May 2021 CL - From Wreath: On Comets

This month we were presented with a comet having straight rays for its head, and a single elongated, straight ray for its beard, matching that seen in the arms of Beneditti referenced on the October 2013 Cover Letter:

However, we do have period evidence of mullets elongated to base (i.e., only the basemost ray is stretched out), but those appear to be a variant of a comet, not normal mullet. An example of such a comet can be seen in the 16th century Italian armorial Insignia Nobilium Patavinorum, BSB Cod.icon. 275, on f.65r (found at http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00001422/image_137).

...commentary by Ané{zv}ka Pantheon and Iago Boar provided evidence of a variety of depictions of comets in period armory: some with dominant beards supporting the current precedent regarding tincture, and others with more balanced or even dominant heads, going against the idea of tincture being beard-focused. We have therefore decided to overturn past precedent: Comets will take their tincture equally from head and beard, similarly to how we consider sunbursts ("The cloud and the rays are each half of the charge." [Windhaven, Barony of, 01/2020, A-Northshield]). We note that comets with beards so diminutive that the whole charge passes for a simple mullet may fail to be granted any DC for difference in type for those cases.

https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2021/05/21-05cl.html#4

October 2013 - elongated mullets are comets:

From Wreath: No More Elongated Mullets... We had two submissions this month that featured a mullet elongated palewise. We have no evidence that such artistic treatment of a mullet was ever done in period armory at all, and we grant no difference between a mullet and a mullet elongated palewise. However, we do have period evidence of mullets elongated to base (i.e., only the basemost ray is stretched out), but those appear to be a variant of a comet, not normal mullet. An example of such a comet can be seen in the 16th century Italian armorial Insignia Nobilium Patavinorum, BSB Cod.icon. 275, on f.65r (found at http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00001422/image_137). Therefore, as we would like to avoid confusion between comets and mullets, mullets elongated palewise will no longer be registerable after the April 2014 decision meetings... http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2013/10/13-10cl.html

July 2002 - headed of a roundel:

"Some commenters felt that heading a comet of a roundel, rather than a mullet or an estoile, might be an additional problem with this armory. However, given the different period depictions of comets, a comet headed of a roundel is a reasonable variant." July 2002 LoAR

Registerability:'

(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)

January 2015 - different tinctures of head and beard

#103Anitsa Kasperova. Name and device. Sable, an icicle and on a chief argent a comet reversed gules headed sable. There is a step from period practice for a comet with different tinctures for head and beard. http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2015/01/15-01lar.html

August 2014 - compass stars elongated:

From Wreath: Compass stars elongated to base Previous precedent, from the October 2013 Cover Letter, declared mullets elongated palewise to be unregisterable: > We had two submissions this month that featured a mullet elongated palewise. We have no evidence that such artistic treatment of a mullet was ever done in period armory at all, and we grant no difference between a mullet and a mullet elongated palewise. > However, we do have period evidence of mullets elongated to base (i.e., only the basemost ray is stretched out), but those appear to be a variant of a comet, not normal mullet. An example of such a comet can be seen in the 16th century Italian armorial Insignia Nobilium Patavinorum, BSB Cod.icon. 275, on f.65r (found at http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00001422/image_137). > Therefore, as we would like to avoid confusion between comets and mullets, mullets elongated pale wise will no longer be registerable after the April 2014 decision meetings. Per that precedent, mullets elongated to base are considered to be a variant of comets, and will be blazoned as comets. However, these variants are constructed from mullets, and not compass stars. Barring period evidence of compass stars elongated to base, that charge will not be registerable after the March 2015 decision meeting. http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2014/08/14-08cl.html

Conflict:

May 2021 CL - tincture from both tails and heads

This month we were presented with a comet having straight rays for its head, and a single elongated, straight ray for its beard, matching that seen in the arms of Beneditti referenced on the October 2013 Cover Letter:

However, we do have period evidence of mullets elongated to base (i.e., only the basemost ray is stretched out), but those appear to be a variant of a comet, not normal mullet. An example of such a comet can be seen in the 16th century Italian armorial Insignia Nobilium Patavinorum, BSB Cod.icon. 275, on f.65r (found at http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00001422/image_137).

It was later ruled in January 2015 that "This badge is clear of conflict with the device of Deirdre de Clarik, Per chevron sable and azure, a comet palewise argent, bearded Or. There is a DC for fieldlessness, and another DC for the difference in tincture of the comet, as a comet's tincture is based on the tincture of the beard." [emphasis added]

Citing that precedent, Anna Syveken's badge, Per chevron ployé azure and sable, a comet Or was returned in 2019 and similarly this badge would also be returned, each for conflict against Deirdre de Clarik's device, which has both an argent estoile as its head, and an Or beard approximately as long as the estoile is tall.

However, commentary by Ané{zv}ka Pantheon and Iago Boar provided evidence of a variety of depictions of comets in period armory: some with dominant beards supporting the current precedent regarding tincture, and others with more balanced or even dominant heads, going against the idea of tincture being beard-focused. We have therefore decided to overturn past precedent: Comets will take their tincture equally from head and beard, similarly to how we consider sunbursts ("The cloud and the rays are each half of the charge." [Windhaven, Barony of, 01/2020, A-Northshield]). We note that comets with beards so diminutive that the whole charge passes for a simple mullet may fail to be granted any DC for difference in type for those cases.

https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2021/05/21-05cl.html#4

Collected Precedents:

Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (May 2005 - July 2008) - na The 2nd Tenure of François la Flamme (October 2004 - May 2005) - na The Tenure of Shauna of Carrick Point (May 2004 - August 2004) - [Armory Precedents] The Tenure of François la Flamme (August 2001 - April 2004) - [Armory Precedents] The Tenure of Elsbeth Anne Roth (June 1999 - July 2001) - [Armory Precedents] The Tenure of Jaelle of Armida (June 1996 - June 1999) - [HTML Document] The 2nd Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (November 1993 - June 1996) - the 1st part (Nov 1993 - June 1994) and the 2nd part (July 1994 - June 1996) The Tenure of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme (June 1992 - October 1993) - [precedents] The 1st Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (June 1990 - June 1992) - the 1st year (June 1990 - June 1991) and the 2nd year (July 1991 - June 1992) The Tenure of Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane (September 1986 - June 1990) - [Precedents] The Tenure of Baldwin of Erebor (August 1984 - August 1986) - [HTML Document] The Tenure of Wilhelm von Schlüssel (August 1979 - August 1984) - [Precedents] The Tenure of Karina of the Far West (December 1975 - June 1979) - [Precedents] The Early Days (June 1971 - June 1975) - Collected Precedents]

In the Ordinary

(as of 4/2012):

• Comet