Editing Blazoning of Creatures
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derived from Master Eldred Ælfwald, Azure Dragon Herald© 1998, 2010 Eldred Ælfwald / J. T. Thorpe | |||
http://ealdercote.org/books/UoA/AnimalBlazonry.html | http://ealdercote.org/books/UoA/AnimalBlazonry.html | ||
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In period armory, beasts and monsters were drawn such that their main features were easily seen and identified, and this convention should continue to be used... | In period armory, beasts and monsters were drawn such that their main features were easily seen and identified, and this convention should continue to be used... | ||
One thing to note is that the default position for a beast or monster to be facing is '''''to dexter''''' (the viewer's left, the shield bearer's right). | One thing to note is that the default position for a beast or monster to be facing is '''''to dexter''''' (the viewer's left, the shield bearer's right). Many of the terms of heraldry come from French, and the major postures reflect these origins... | ||
Many of the terms of heraldry come from French, and the major postures reflect these origins... | |||
See also [[Posture]] | See also [[Posture]] | ||
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'''coiled erect''':bottom portion coiled, head up and ready to strike. An SCA invented posture.<br> | '''coiled erect''':bottom portion coiled, head up and ready to strike. An SCA invented posture.<br> | ||
See also [[ | See also [[Quadruped Postures]] | ||
=Humans and Humanoids= | =Humans and Humanoids= | ||
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See also [[Sea Creature Postures]] | See also [[Sea Creature Postures]] | ||
= | =Neither Fish Nor Fowl= | ||
[[File:http://dragon_azure.tripod.com/images/Image23.gif|228x209px|right]] | |||
'' | Creatures that do not show a lot of movement or which don't really have a logical posture don't have their posture blazoned. For example, a snail or an octopus is just going to be blazoned as such but without a posture. There is no "logical" view of a snail except the side view. There is no logical view for an octopus or kraken (squid) except for head in the middle with the tentacles sort of fanning out from the center. | ||
So what about heraldic monsters? Since many heraldic monsters are combinations of heraldic beasts, and combine two or more different types of beasts, how are they drawn? The answer is "Use your own judgement." A sea-monster is normally blazoned '''''erect'''''--the forepaws are as if the beast is rampant and the tail is looped. If the monster has legs, it can be blazoned using some if not all of the land attitudes. A dragon may be blazoned using any land or air beast attitudes, yet a wyvern cannot as it only has two legs. | |||
Some of the more unusual animals in the heraldic zoo have multiple heads or bodies. The hydra is a "standard" multi-headed monster, but since it is defined as having multiple heads, there is not a special term for it. However, for those animals, that would not normally have more than one head (or body) special terms exist. | |||
[[File:http://dragon_azure.tripod.com/images/Image24.gif|143x150px|right]] | |||
'''bicorporate''':having two bodies and one head<br> | '''bicorporate''':having two bodies and one head<br> | ||
'''tricorporate, etc.''':having three, or more bodies as indicated by prefix<br> | '''tricorporate, etc.''':having three, or more bodies as indicated by prefix<br> | ||
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=Animals’ Heads= | =Animals’ Heads= | ||
[[File:http://dragon_azure.tripod.com/images/Image25.gif|179x254px|left]] | |||
How does one deal with just the head of an animal? There are four basic positions for an animal’s head: | |||
'''cabossed/caboshed''':simply a frontal view of the animal’s face. The neck is not shown in this depiction. '''Note:''' for foxes, this is referred to a '''''fox's mask''''', and for lions and leopards, it is referred to as a '''''lion's (or leopard's) face'''''.<br> | '''cabossed/caboshed''':simply a frontal view of the animal’s face. The neck is not shown in this depiction. '''Note:''' for foxes, this is referred to a '''''fox's mask''''', and for lions and leopards, it is referred to as a '''''lion's (or leopard's) face'''''.<br> | ||
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'''jessant-de-lys''':with a fleur-de-lys issuing from the mouth and head--as if the head were speared through. | '''jessant-de-lys''':with a fleur-de-lys issuing from the mouth and head--as if the head were speared through. | ||
=Attitude Adjustments= | |||
= | |||
==Major Adjustments== | ==Major Adjustments== | ||
In addition to the normal postures, there are a few other postures that involve multiple beasts or a beast and another object. Creatures that don't really have a front or a back when viewed in a heraldic position aren't blazoned in this fashion.. | In addition to the normal postures, there are a few other postures that involve multiple beasts or a beast and another object. Creatures that don't really have a front or a back when viewed in a heraldic position aren't blazoned in this fashion. For example, you wouldn't have "two snakes glissant respectant" or "two fish hauriant addorsed"--such a blazon would not have much meaning. | ||
[[http://dragon_azure.tripod.com/images/Image26.gif|283x269px|right]] | |||
'''combattant''':any two carnivorous beasts facing one another across the center line of division<br> | '''combattant''':any two carnivorous beasts facing one another across the center line of division<br> | ||
'''respectant''':any two peaceful beasts facing one another across the centerline of division.<br> | '''respectant''':any two peaceful beasts facing one another across the centerline of division.<br> | ||
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Minor changes to a beast include the position of the head or the tail, tinctures of minor details such as eyes, claws. Also, any aspect of a beast can have a tincture different from the remainder of its body. | Minor changes to a beast include the position of the head or the tail, tinctures of minor details such as eyes, claws. Also, any aspect of a beast can have a tincture different from the remainder of its body. | ||
=== | ===Changes to Postures=== | ||
[[http://dragon_azure.tripod.com/images/Image27.gif|157x205px|right]] | |||
'''regardant''':applied to any beast--looking over its shoulder. Common.<br> | '''regardant''':applied to any beast--looking over its shoulder. Common.<br> | ||
'''guardant''':applied to any beast--looking out towards viewer ('''''at gaze'''''for stags that are statant) Common.<br> | '''guardant''':applied to any beast--looking out towards viewer ('''''at gaze'''''for stags that are statant) Common.<br> | ||
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'''vulning:'''any animal wounding itself (Pelicans are the classic example)<br> | '''vulning:'''any animal wounding itself (Pelicans are the classic example)<br> | ||
=== | ===Changes or Additions to Attributes=== | ||
. | '''Beware!''' By detailing every aspect of a beast, one begins to move away from period practice and good heraldic style. Remember, the fewer tinctures the eyes must distinguish between, the better the armorial style! By attempting too much detail, one ends up with "pictorial heraldry"! None of these changes will count as a difference between two beasts in SCA armory. Such details are usually too small to be noticed at a distance. What follows is not a comprehensive list, but covers a fair number of small changes that can be made to enhance an emblazon. Often, such details that are a standard part of the beast are regarded as artistic license. Additions to a beast, such as '''''gorged''''' and '''''vorant''''' are explicitly blazoned when the armory is being registered. | ||
'''alerion''':without legs or beak. Rare.<br> | '''alerion''':without legs or beak. Rare.<br> | ||
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'''vulned''':wounded and disgorging blood<br> | '''vulned''':wounded and disgorging blood<br> | ||
---- | =Bibliography= | ||
==Books and Publications== | |||
* Benicœur, Arval and Marten Bröker. ''The Compleat Anachronist #22: Heraldry--The Design and Submission of Devices and Badges in the Society for Creative Anachronism''. November, 1985. | |||
* Brooke-Little, J.P. <u>An Heraldic Alphabet</u>. Robson Books, London, 1996. | |||
* Amberdrake, Eowyn. ''The Compleat Anachronist #61: An Encheiridion: The Education of a Scribe.''May, 1992. | |||
* Foster, John. <u>The Dictionary of Heraldry</u>. Studio Editions, London, 1994. | |||
* Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles. <u>A Complete Guide to Heraldry</u>. Bonanza Books, England, 1985. | |||
* Friar, Stephen J. and John Ferguson. <u>Basic Heraldry</u>. W.W.Norton & Company, New York, 1993. | |||
* Grant, Francis J. <u>The Manual of Heraldry</u>. John Grant Booksellers, Ltd. Edinburgh, 1948. | |||
* Miller, Bruce and Kevin Munday. <u>A Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry</u>. 1992. | |||
* Woodcock and Robinson. <u>The Oxford Guide to Heraldry</u>Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1988. | |||
==Computer Resources== | |||
* rec.heraldry -Usenet newsgroup. Members of the British College of Arms and the SCA converse here. | |||
* SCAHRLDS - SCA Heralds' mail list server. | |||
* [[http://www.sca.org/heraldry SCA Heraldry Homepage]]: -- Here one can find the Rules for Submission, a listing of online SCA heraldic precedents, and links to other heraldry resources. | |||
'''The Legal Stuff:'''These materials are ©1997-2010 by J.T.Thorpe. | '''The Legal Stuff:'''These materials are ©1997-2010 by J.T.Thorpe. | ||
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[[File:Logocaption.jpg|right]] | [[File:Logocaption.jpg|right]] | ||
'''WARNING: Do not cite this page as a reference. This page is on this wiki to make the content "searchable" and easier to find. If you find the information you seek here, go to the original sources (generally linked) to verify the information and use them for your documentation.''' | '''WARNING: Do not cite this page as a reference. This page is on this wiki only to make the content "searchable" and easier to find. If you find the information you seek here, go to the original sources (generally linked) to verify the information and use them for your documentation.''' | ||
[[Category:Armory]] [[Category:References]] | [[Category:Armory]] [[Category:References]] |