Mullet

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Heraldic term for a star. In the SCA, it is a star with straight rays, unlike an estoile which has wavy rays.

See also Compass Rose .

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Illustrations:

Period:

Histoire
Histoire Naturelle des Indes, 16th cent, the "Drake Manuscript", sea star	Insignia Venetorum, BSB 272 f175, 1550-55, azure on gules, mullet, cross

"Banners, Standards and Badges from a Tudor manuscript in the College of Arms", p 138, banner with phoenix, sunburst, fimbriated/pierced mullets

An Ordinary of Siebmacher's Wappenbuch

• http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/heraldry/siebmacher/m-siebmacher.html

Modern:

Pictorial Dictionary of SCA Heraldry (3rd edition):

• [[1]]
• [[2]]
• [of David]

PicDic

Mullet

Mullet

Compass

Vector Graphics:

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

Pennsic Traceable Art Project:

• [Mullet (5 points by default)]
• [Mullet of 6 points]
• [Mullet of 7 points]
• [Mullet of 7 points (voided and interlaced)]
• [Mullet of 4 greater and 4 lesser points]
• [Mullet of 8 points]
• [Mullet of 9 points]

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Sources:

• "Data Analysis of of Emblazons Containing Mullets, Estoiles, Spur-Rowels, and Suns" - by Gunnvǫr silfrahárr - http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/Stars/Suns-and-Stars.htm

• Academy of St. Gabriel "Medieval Heraldry Archive" - http://www.s-gabriel.org/heraldry/
• Archive of St. Gabriel reports - http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/archive.cgi
• Laurel Armory Articles - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/armory_articles.html

• New Heraldic Primer (Heraldry for Non-Heralds) - http://heraldry.sca.org/armory/newprimer/
• Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry (PicDic), 3rd Edition - http://mistholme.com/pictorial-dictionary-of-heraldry
• Period Armorials

• Parker's Heraldry - http://karlwilcox.com/parker/ (broken)
• Riestap's Armorial Général - http://www.euraldic.com/lasu/bl/bl_a_aa.html

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Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.

Definition:

(includes defaults, proper tinctures, blazoning)

From the April 2012 Cover Letter:

From Wreath: Mullets and Estoiles, Take Two Commenters were asked to discuss whether or not we should continue giving difference for the number of points on a mullet or estoile, and how they should be considered versus suns. Research into period depictions of all three charges was enlightening. While most estoiles are of six wavy rays, some were found with more; none were found with less. Mullets were found with any number of points, most typically between five and eight. Suns were typically found with both wavy and straight rays, but examples were found of suns with only straight rays and of suns with only wavy rays; suns never had less than eight rays. In all cases, various depictions of the same arms in period showed that the number of points or rays largely did not matter...

• a mullet of eight or more points is equivalent to a sun and will not be granted difference from a sun
• an estoile of eight or more rays is equivalent to a sun and will not be granted difference from a sun

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2012/04/12-04cl.html

From the March 2010 LoAR:

Elionora Brenan. Device. Per chevron azure and argent, two oak leaves Or and a mullet voided and interlaced within and conjoined to an annulet sable. This device is returned for using three types of charge in a single group. On the Cover Letter to the March 2009 LoAR, it was ruled that when a charge within an annulet is not alone on the field, they are considered part of the same group. Therefore, the primary charge group in this submission consists of three types of charge: leaf, mullet, and annulet. This is a violation of section VIII.1.a of the Rules for Submissions, which states that "three or more types of charges should not be used in the same group." http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2010/03/10-03lar.html

Registerability:

(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)

From the August 2014 LoAR:

"There is a step from period practice for the use of a mullet of five greater and five lesser points." [Konrad vom Platz, LoAR of Aug 2014] http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2014/08/14-08lar.html

From the August 2014 Cover Letter:

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

From the October 2013 Cover Letter:

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... [[3]]

From the September 2012 LoAR:

John Arghile: "There is a step from period practice for the use of compass stars." [LoAR 09/2012, a compass star is a star of 4 greater and 4 lesser points]

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2012/09/12-09lar.html

From the April 2012 Cover Letter:

From Wreath: Mullets and Estoiles, Take Two Commenters were asked to discuss whether or not we should continue giving difference for the number of points on a mullet or estoile, and how they should be considered versus suns...

• suns with fewer than eight projections (points or rays or a combination) will not be registered

[[4]]

From the November 2011 Cover Letter:

From Wreath: Voided (and Interlaced) Charges This month we ruled that charges that are voided as part of their definition, such as mascles and annulets, may be used in all types of charge groups. This clarifies section VIII.3 of the Rules for Submissions, which requires that "Voiding and fimbriation may only be used with simple geometric charges placed in the center of the design." This rule was interpreted in February 2011 to mean that mullets of eight points voided and interlaced were too complex to be used as a charge not in the center of the design. More recent interpretations have included mullets of five and six points voided and interlaced in this ruling, preventing their use as non-primary charges. However, as mullets of five and six points voided and interlaced can be found in period armory and are simpler and more recognizable than a mullet of eight points voided and interlaced, we have declared their voiding and interlacing to be part of their definition of type, and so they may also be used as non-primary charges. We will continue to not use the terms pentagram or pentacle, due to their possible confusion over whether or not an annulet is involved. [[5]]

From the August 1993 LoAR:

Mullets of six or more points may be voided and interlaced (the Star of David, for instance, is perfectly acceptable). (Diego Mundoz, August, 1993, pg. 6) [[6]]

From The Tenure of Wilhelm von Schlüssel:

• You cannot have the Southern Cross, as constellations are out of period for use as charges. [LoAR 13 Feb 80], p 7
• The use of a constellation as a charge is out of period and not acceptable. However, I would be willing to consider an Ursa Major as a charge if you draw the full constellation of mullets on the proper bear shape as drawn by the ancients in our period. The College could then debate whether this is acceptable usage, as such drawings did exist in our period. [LoAR 27 Aug 80], p. 7
• http:heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents/wilhelm/wilhelmcombined.html#constellation

Conflict:

From the April 2012 Cover Letter:

From Wreath: Mullets and Estoiles, Take Two Commenters were asked to discuss whether or not we should continue giving difference for the number of points on a mullet or estoile, and how they should be considered versus suns... Past precedent has granted difference between some numbers of points on mullets. Based on the research commenters provided, it seems that this precedent is rather contrary to period armorial style, and in the interest of moving SCA armory closer to period style we are hereby overturning that precedent and making the following rulings:

• we will continue to grant difference between mullets, with all straight rays, and estoiles, with all wavy rays
• ...
• there is no difference granted between mullets of any number of points
• there is no difference granted between estoiles of any number of points
• an estoile or mullet of seven or fewer points will be granted difference from a sun
• a mullet of eight or more points is equivalent to a sun and will not be granted difference from a sun
• an estoile of eight or more rays is equivalent to a sun and will not be granted difference from a sun

As this does overturn current precedent, these rulings will take effect as of the November 2012 Laurel meeting. [[7]]

November 2009 - DC for voiding & interlacing

Cormac Mór, A-Caid - Due to the visual difference between them, there is a CD for the difference between a mullet of five points and a mullet of five points voided and interlaced. Therefore, this badge does not conflict with the badge of Hans Dürrmast von der Wanderlust, (Fieldless) A mullet of five greater and five lesser points within and conjoined to an annulet argent. There is a CD for the fieldlessness and a CD for the voiding and interlacing. No difference is granted for the removal of the five minor points from Hans' badge. http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2009/11/09-11lar.html

From the January 2003 LoAR:

"There is no difference between a mullet of four points and a compass star: 'By prior precedent there is not a CD between a compass star and a mullet of four points' (LoAR April 2001)." [2003 LoAR]

From the March 1993 LoAR:

"we grant no difference between mullet of four points and mullet of five points" [1993 LoAR]

Collected Precedents:

2nd Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (April 2011 - August 2011) - [[8]] 1st Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (May 2005 - July 2008) - [[9]] The 2nd Tenure of François la Flamme (October 2004 - May 2005) - [[10]] The Tenure of Shauna of Carrick Point (May 2004 - August 2004) - The Tenure of François la Flamme (August 2001 - April 2004) - The Tenure of Elsbeth Anne Roth (June 1999 - July 2001) - The Tenure of Jaelle of Armida (June 1996 - June 1999) - The 2nd Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (November 1993 - June 1996) - The Tenure of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme (June 1992 - October 1993) - The 1st Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (June 1990 - June 1992) - The Tenure of Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane (September 1986 - June 1990) - The Tenure of Baldwin of Erebor (August 1984 - August 1986) - The Tenure of Wilhelm von Schlüssel (August 1979 - August 1984) - The Tenure of Karina of the Far West (December 1975 - June 1979) - The Early Days (June 1971 - June 1975) - [NATURELLE],

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In the Ordinary:

(includes caltrap, compass star, constellation, pentacle, rowel)

• [- Uncharged - 1 - Argent - Sole primary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Argent - Group primary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Argent - Secondary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Argent - Tertiary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Azure]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Fur]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Gules]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Multicolor]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Or - Sole primary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Or - Group primary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Or - Secondary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Or - Tertiary]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Purpure]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Sable]
• [- Uncharged - 1 - Vert]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Argent]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Azure]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Fur]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Gules]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Multicolor]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Or]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Purpure]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Sable]
• [- Uncharged - 2 - Vert]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Argent]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Azure]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Fur]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Gules]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Multicolor]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Or]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Purpure]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Sable]
• [- Uncharged - 3 - Vert]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Argent]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Azure]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Fur]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Gules]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Multicolor]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Or]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Purpure]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Sable]
• [- Uncharged - 4 or more - Vert] #mulletcharged
• [- Charged - Argent]
• [- Charged - Azure]
• [- Charged - Fur]
• [- Charged - Gules]
• [- Charged - Multicolor]
• [- Charged - Or]
• [- Charged - Purpure]
• [- Charged - Sable]
• [- Charged - Vert]
• Mulletty - see [[11]]