Head

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A head may be couped (completely smooth as if cut off cleanly at the neck), erased (very jagged as if forcibly ripped from the body), or cabossed (facing forward without any neck showing at all).

Illustrations:

Period:

Crowned:

Livro Livro do Armeiro Mor, 1506-06, Portugal, f17, crowned heads couped

Wigs, Zephyr:

HerveyGrants_c1558_Wigs.jpg BSB268,Insignia...
Hervey Grants of Arms, c. 1558, Peter Gwynn-Jones, "The Art of Heraldry", p.103. The canting arms of Herman, c.1510. BSB268,Insignia... Romae, 1550-55, f112r, zephyr

Bearded:

Siebmacher, Banners,
Siebmacher, 1605, plate 83, Bart means beard/whiskers cabossed Banners, Standards and Badges, Tudor manuscript, butterflies and a moor's head couped

Moors Head:

Insignia St.
Insignia Lucensium, 1550-55, BSB278, Moors' heads St. Gall Wappenbuch, 1462-91, Moors heads

Images courtesy of Gunnvor silfrahar.

Fish head, two-headed chicken, two-headed crane:

BSBCsg9210_f72r_ululantfishhead.jpg Zurich_c1340_twoheadchicken.jpg StGall_double_headed_crane.jpg
BSB Csg 9210 Grunenburg Wappenbuch, 1602-04, f72r, fish head ululant vs bendwise ? couped Zurich Roll, c1340, two-headed chicken, FB Image courtesy of Oddr Thialfason. St. Gall Abott Ulrich Rosch Book of Heraldry, 15th cent, two-headed crane.

Chicken-head:

BSBCgm145vonGrunenberg_f212_chickenhead.JPG
BSB Cgm 145, Das Wappenbuch Conrads von Grünenberg, 1480, folio 212, chicken-head

Modern:

Pictorial Dictionary of SCA Heraldry (3rd edition):

Vector Graphics:

Book of Traceable Heraldic Art

Annotated Pennsic Traceable Art Project

Sources:



Parker's Heraldry

http://karlwilcox.com/parker/ [broken link]

Head Head, (fr. tête): as will have been noticed, the heads of beasts, birds, and fishes are very frequently represented by 311a.png themselves, being couped, or erased; but it has been thought well to group under one article the various forms of the human head as they appear in heraldic design, and it has been observed they are very frequent in the arms of Welsh families. It may be said generally that, unless otherwise specified, the human head(as well as heads of beasts) should be drawn in profile. In English arms the heads are usually blazoned proper; in French arms the tincture is usually named, i.e. carnation. The following are the representative types of these charges, of which it is thought well to give examples. Besides men’s heads proper, which are generally represented as those of old men with hair (fr. chevelée), and bearded(fr. barbée), and young men’s heads (see example under mascle), we find various heads specified, as of Englishmen, of Saxons, of Princes, of Saracens(as in the crest of DRAYTON), of Turks, of Moors, or blackamoors and negroes, of the gypsy or Egyptian, and finally of savages’ heads. In one case a bald head is given. There seem to be no very defined rules for drawing the respective heads, much being left to the ingenuity of the artist; still in many of the arms as exhibited in sculpture or in glass the heads are very characteristic. 

311b.png
  • Azure, three broad arrows or, two and one feathered argent; on a chief of the second as many men’s heads couped sidefaced proper–WATTES, Somerset.
  • Gules, a chevron ermine between three Englishmen’s heads in profile proper–LLOYD, co. Denbigh.
  • [Similar arms seems to be borne by Abp. WILLIAMS of York, and Bp. GRIFFITH of S.Asaph.]
  • Gules, a chevron between three Saxon’s heads in profile, the two in chief couped and one in base erased argent–GRIFFITH.
  • Ermine, three prince’s heads crowned and mantled proper couped at the breast–ENFANTLEROY.
  • Gules, a chevron between three Saracen’s heads couped at the shoulders argent–SARES, Middlesex.
  • Gules, a Saracen’s head erased proper hair and beard or, round the temples a fillet nowed argent and azure; on a chief or three roses gules–HUGHES, Bp. of S.Asaph, 1573-1600.
  • Vert, a chevron gules between three Turk’s heads couped proper turbaned or–SMITH, granted 1623.
  • D’azur, à trois têtes de Turcs de carnation, le turban parti et tortillé d’or et de gueules–BELO, Manche. 312a.png
  • Argent, three moor’s heads couped at the shoulders proper filleted or and gules–TANNER, Bp. of S.Asaph, 1732-35.
  • Or, on a fesse between three Moor’s heads erased sable as many crescents argent–BLACKMORE.
  • Or, a blackamoor’s head couped sable–BINNS.
  • Or, a cross gules between four blackamoor’s heads affrontee, couped at the shoulders proper, wreathed about the temples gold–JUXON, Bp. of London, 1633; Abp. of Cant. 1660-63.
  • Per fesse argent and sable, a pale counterchanged three negro’s heads proper–GERARD.
  • Per fesse gules and argent, three Egyptian’s heads counterchanged–ASHPOOLE.
  • On a wreath a cubit arm erect grasping a dagger, enfiled with a gypsy’s head couped proper–Crest of MACLELLAN, Lord Kircudbright.
  • Azure, a bird’s leg couped at the thigh or, conjoined to a savage’s head argent, hair sable–PETRE.
  • Vert, a lion rampant or; on a chief argent a man’s head couped at the neck and bald proper between ducal coronets of the second–MULTADY, Ireland.
  • Gules, a chevron argent between three St.Paul’s heads proper–PAULSWORTH, or PILSWORTH.

Amongst peculiar examples may be named Moses’ head and the head of John the Baptist in a charger. The former, 313a.png however, is borne only as a crest, that is to say, by the family of HILTON, and the engraving is taken from the carving on the eastern front of Hilton Castle, Durham. The latter appears as the crest of the London Company of TALLOWCHANDLERS, adopted, no doubt, in consequence of S.John the Baptist being chosen as their patron Saint; it is also borne by the town of Ayr in Scotland (see the arms given under Lamb). Again, a peculiar head appears as the crest of Sir Sandich de TRANE, knight-founder of the Garter (that is to say one of the first knights of the order); it is blazoned sometimes as a Satyr’s head, and the device appears also in a coat of arms. Other fanciful heads occur as crests, e.g. a Fiend’s head (blazoned also ‘Satan’s head‘), i.e. a men’s head with ears like a dragon’s wings, and a Whittal’s head, said to be a man’s head with short horns, and called by Anstis ‘the head of Midas, with asses’ ears.’

  • The head of Moses proper, with two rays or horns or–Crest born e by HILTON. [The arms are argent, two bars azure.]
  • On a wreath a demi angel issuing from clouds, proper, vested azure, wings expanded or, crined of the last; on his head a cap; thereon a cross patée of the third, holding a dish argent, glorified or; therein the head of S.John the Baptist proper–TALLOW-CHANDLERS’ Company, London. [Arms and crest granted, Sept. 24, 1463.

313b.png

  • Argent, on a bend sable, three satyr’s heads couped at the shoulders of the first, horned or–WHEYWELL.
  • Sable, three Midas’s heads erased argent, crowned or–JAY.

Of Women’s heads there are also several varieties. As a rule they are drawn with dishevelled hair. The maidens’ heads are drawn as the head and shoulders of a woman affronty, couped below the breasts, her hair dishevelled, and usually wreathed with a garland of roses; sometimes also crowned with an eastern crown. The term bust is also sometimes used in English, but more frequently in French blazon. The term lady’s head is also found, as also nun’s head, the last being generally veiled.

  • Azure, a fesse or, in chief three women’s heads couped at the breasts proper and crined of the second; in base a leopard’s face of the last–SUGDON.
  • Sable, a fesse enhanced argent; in chief three nun’s heads couped at the shoulders proper, vested of the second, crowned or; in base an ox passing a ford proper–S.FRIDESWIDE’S PRIORY, Oxford, afterwards the arms of the Bishoprick of OXFORD.
  • Azure, on a chevron argent between three maiden’s heads of the second, crined or, three lilies slipped gules; on a chief of the third a cross tau sable between two roses of the fourth–TAYLOR, Bp. of Lincoln, 1532-54.
  • Azure, three lady’s heads in fesse between as many fleurs-de-lis or–COLLARD.
  • Argent, a chevron sable between three nun’s heads veiled couped at the shoulders proper–DAVENEY, Norfolk.
  • Argent, on a bend between six billets gules three veiled nun’s heads couped bendwise of the first–WEDNISSON.
  • Gules, a maiden’s head proper crined or–MAYDENSTUN, Bp. of Worcester, 1314-17.
  • Gules, three bars ermine; on a canton argent a maiden’s head proper–BARETTI, India.
  • …. A quadrangular castle surmounted with another, over the battlements the bust of a queen, her hair dishevelled and(ducally) crowned …. –Seal of Corporation of QUEENBOROUGH, Kent.
  • D’azur, a trois bustes de reine de carnation couronnées à l’antique d’or–GRANDMONT, Comtat-Venaissin.

Infants’, and children’s, and boys’ heads are also found named, frequently with a snake twisted around the neck. 314a.png

  • Argent, a boy’s head proper, crined or, couped below the shoulders, vested gules, garnished gold–BOYMAN.
  • Gules, three boy’s heads couped argent crined or–INFANT.
  • Sable, three infant’s heads couped at the shoulders proper crined or–BONYFANT.
  • Sable, a fesse or between three children’s heads couped at the shoulders proper; about each neck a snake vert–APJOHN, Surrey.
  • Sable, a chevron argent between three children’s heads couped at the shoulders proper crined or; about each neck a snake vert–VAUGHAN.

The Seraph’s head is said to be represented as the head of an infant with six wings, two above it in saltire, two below it in saltire, and one on each side, but so far as has been observed no example occurs. Death’s heads are but rarely borne (see under Bones).

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)

August 2020 - gorgon heads cabossed by default

Marcus Atilius Pansa. Name and device. Per pale argent and sable, a gorgon's head between in saltire four bulls passant respectant all counterchanged. "We are overturning precedent dating to the December 1984 registration of the badge of Manfred von Halsstern, Argent, a Gorgon's head cabossed sable, langued and orbed, within a pair of bull's horns gules where it was stated, "Cabossed is a perfectly reasonable default for a Gorgon's head ­­ it is the obvious and most recognizable aspect -­ but given the proliferation of ad hoc defaults in SCA heraldry, it is probably better to err on the side of explicitness." We explicitly define cabossed as the default orientation of a gorgon's head, and no longer choose to explicitly blazon it." https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2020/08/20-08lar.html#117

November 2001 - couped/erased:

The issue of acceptable depictions of couped and erased (for beast heads and other body parts) arose in this month's Wreath meeting concerning the device of Laurenço Affonso. Wreath and staff conducted a post-meeting review of period depictions of beast heads from British and Continental sources. Some of the sources reviewed include the online Zuricher Wappenrolle, Siebmacher's 1605 Wappenbuch, A European Armorial (the Armorial of the Toison d'Or), Armorial Gelre,Armorial Bellenville, Libro de Armeria del Reino de Navarra, the Scots Roll, Laing's facsimile of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount's 1542 Roll of Arms, Stodart's Scottish Arms facsimile, Legh's Accedence of Armory (1597), and Mackenzie of Rosehaugh's Science of Herauldrie (1680), together with modern works containing plates with period pictures of armory.

The most significant difference between couped and erased is that couped was almost universally treated as a smooth line, while erased was marked by the presence of significant and prominent jags. Virtually all heads found in period heraldic artwork are distinctly either couped or erased, without intermediate artistic forms. This is also true of other cases of partial animals, such as jambes and demi-beasts.

The smooth line found on couped heads was found depicted in a number of manners, none of which was so universal to be deemed the only acceptable manner of couping a head. One of these depictions was a straight line, like the traditional modern heraldic understanding of couped. The straight line was generally parallel to the chief (ref. 1), parallel to the side of the shield or part of an underlying ordinary (ref. 2), or, in the case of heads couped close, perpendicular to the chief (ref. 3). Another form of couping showed a slight convexity, as if the head had been cut from the body with a sharp knife, and a slight trian aspect of the neck is seen (ref. 4). Another convex form resembled a shallow T-shirt neck line (ref. 5). Another form of couping showed a smooth shallow concavity (ref. 6). Sometimes there was an extreme concavity, particularly in Continental sources (ref. 7). This concavity appears to be anatomically based on the shoulders of the beast. Any of these forms are acceptable for depictions of couped heads.

The portions of the ruling on Ulvar MacVanis's device in the LoAR of July 2000 which are inconsistent with this evidence are overturned. That ruling said, in part,this particular rendition [of couped] is too far from known period practices...the line [of couping] was very carefully drawn to follow the shoulder line; it is bendwise at the top and palewise at the bottom. Based on the period evidence above, it is acceptable for couping to show such a deep curve that it appears to follow the shoulder of the animal. It is worth noting that the emblazon in Ulvar's submission has a much deeper point in the front neck edge than was found in even the most extreme examples found in the Continental sources examined, so the return for Natural Depiction in Ulvar's case is appropriate.

In some very rare cases of boar's heads couped close, one could find depictions of couping which were not entirely smooth, and appeared to attempt to depict bristles on the boar's head. This deviation from standard practice for boars is not surprising when one considers that a boar's bristles are one of his main heraldic identifiers. This bristly depiction of a boar's head couped resembles neither erasing nor an indented line. See, for example, the Polish arms of Swinka or Scheinichen on p. 149 of A European Armorial, which shows bristle needles sticking out past the back of the couped line. This distinctive coat is very similar to no-doubt related coats from Silesia on f. 61 of Siebmacher, and it interesting to note that Siebmacher's couping is much smoother but does show a bit of bristly detail.

Erased necks were marked by prominent jags. By far the most common number of jags found in the sources, regardless of national origin, was three. However, as many as eight jags were found with some frequency by the end of period. It should be noted that the number of jags does not appear to be the critical factor, but rather the prominence of the jags. The jags generally appear to be approximately one-sixth to one-third of the height of the entire erased head, and the jags were consistently wavy like the rays of an estoile or a rayonny line of division (refs. 8, 9, 10 and 11). In no cases did the erasing appear to resemble an indented line, neither large scale nor in a smaller pinking-shear depiction.

Therefore, for purposes of recreating period armorial style for erasing, the erasing should (1) have between three and eight jags; (2) have jags that are approximately one-sixth to one-third the total height of the charge being erased; and (3) have jags that are not straight but rather are wavy or curved. The predominance of the three-jag erasing is such that it can be recommended throughout our period and across Europe. For purposes of recreating period armorial style for couping, the couping should be a smooth line which is either straight, slightly convex, a shallow concave, or a recognizable extreme concave. A straight line or a shallow curve can be recommended throughout our period and across Europe.

Submissions which contain couped or erased charges that diverge significantly from the guidelines above risk being returned for unidentifiability or non-period style unless they are accompanied by documentation.

References: These examples are chosen from the more commonly available heraldic sources for ease of reference.

  • Ref. 1: Neubecker's Heraldry: Sources, Symbols and Meaning, p. 35, arms of Hungary, fourth quarter; Gwynn-Jones's The Art of Heraldry p. 67, sinister chief quarter.
  • Ref. 2: Pastoureau's Heraldry: An Introduction to a Noble Tradition, p. 24, couped fish head on painted chest; Neubecker, op. cit., p. 191; Bedingfield and Gwynn-Jones's Heraldry, back dust jacket, fourth row, second from left.
  • Ref. 3: Bedingfield and Gwynn-Jones, op. cit., p. 109, center of top row of Fenwick Roll excerpt.
  • Ref. 4: Siebmacher's 1605 Wappenbuch, f. 153, v. Kotzaw and v. Helldorf.
  • Ref. 5: Neubecker, op. cit., p. 153, third from left, Grunenberg Armorial excerpt; Siebmacher, op. cit., f. 177, Die Schlegel.
  • Ref. 6: Pastoureau, op. cit., p. 12; on-line Manesse Codex ([[1]]); Pastoureau, op. cit., p. 60 (also on-line Manesse codex [[2]]).
  • Ref. 7: Neubecker, op. cit., p. 116, unicorn's heads: this is a citation from the Zuricher Wappenrolle, which can be found in an on-line version ([[3]]) on strip 2, front p. 9 (Helmsdorf).
  • Ref. 8: Bedingfield and Gwynn-Jones, op. cit., p. 101 (Robert Cooke arms); Gwynn-Jones, op. cit., p. 37 (Robert Cooke arms).
  • Ref. 9: Bedingfield and Gwynn-Jones, op. cit., p. 91.
  • Ref. 10: Ibid., p. 109, Fenwick Roll, top row, second from left, and middle row, second from right.
  • Ref. 11: Siebmacher, op. cit., plate 96, die Teufel v. Pirckensee.

11/2001, CL Couped Precedent

Registerability:

(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)

May 2018 CL - On "Ululant"

SENA A2B4 defines elements which are a step from period practice under core rules... allows for certain charges and motifs which appear neither in European heraldry nor in the previously mentioned categories. These include elements such as paw prints, compass stars, and birds (other than an eagle) displayed. These are tolerated because they're remarkably popular and function effectively as armorial elements without causing undue confusion. However, inclusion or exclusion of these charges in past rulings was far more subjective, and such elements could cease being registerable if they became problematic.

It is with this background in mind that we come to the subject of ululant wolves. First appearing in the May 1982 LoAR, the use of ululant, or howling, wolves (and other canids) is long and broad, with just under 200 existing registrations of the term. The term and practice have no basis in period armory or art, but its use in post-period motifs (notably in the American southwest) has led to its popularity in the SCA.

As a head posture on a full or demi-beast, its use is not wholly remarkable. Due to period heralds being largely unconcerned with consistency in head placement and orientation on animate charges, the College of Arms doesn't grant any difference between beasts with heads guardant, regardant, or facing the same direction as the torso. In these instances, use of ululant had no impact on conflict, and was merely a note to artists to place the head in the preferred orientation for the submitter.

Heads as stand-alone charges, however, present an altogether different scenario. A head facing dexter gets a DC from either a head affronty or a head contourny, and (because SENA A5G7 grants a DC for orientation) also has difference from a head bendwise or palewise. However, ululant heads blur the distinction between orientations, with the angle of registered examples ranging from midway between fesswise and bendwise to fully palewise. This ambiguity in blazon demonstrates the problem with including this post-period motif in SCA heraldry.

Therefore, we will be discontinuing use of the term ululant in SCA armory and removing it from Appendix G. When used with a whole or demi wolf, a raised head will be treated as an unblazoned artistic detail and allowed as long as identifiability of the creature is maintained. Depictions of animal heads as stand-alone charges should have the heads in a clearly recognizable orientation, with the neck either perpendicular to the head (couped, erased) or parallel (couped close).

Pending documentation, submissions using ululant heads appearing on external letters after September 30, 2018, will no longer be registered.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2018/05/18-05cl.html#3

August 2011 - demon heads okay, full-body demons no longer registerable:

From Wreath: On Demons

  • A submission this month included a demon. We have only registered a demon nine times, most recently in July 2000. Further research has not shown any instances of a demon as a period heraldic charge. Depictions of demons in period medieval art vary wildly: generally shaggy, but occasionally more dragon-like, feet usually cloven but occasionally clawed like a dragon, sometimes with wings, sometimes without, sometimes with horns, sometimes without, sometimes with a very bestial face, sometimes with a more human face. Demons do not appear to have a standard depiction.
  • Barring evidence for the use of demons as a period charge, we will cease to register demons after the February 2012 Laurel meeting. This explicitly overturns the precedent set in September 1992: "The demon is a period heraldic charge, as found in the arms of the city of Brussels (Gules, the archangel Michael Or vanquishing a demon underfoot sable). [Asher Truefriend, Sep 1992, A-West]". It has since been determined that the arms of the city of Brussels are post-period.
  • This does not affect the registerability of demon heads, which have a far more standard depiction.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2011/08/11-08cl.html

Conflict:

July 2005 - cloud vs. boreas:

Elisabetta Tempesta. Name and device. Azure, three clouds argent. This is clear of Cassandra de la Mistral, Azure, a Boreas (wind) affronty argent. There is a CD for changing the number of primary charges and another for the difference between a heraldic cloud and a Boreas affronty.

  • A prior return (February 1994) stated: "Damales Redbeard. Household badge for Maison du Cheval Volant. Azure, on a cloud argent, a horseshoe inverted sable. Conflict with Cassandra de la Mistral (SCA), Azure, a Boreas affronty argent. There is only one CD for the addition of the tertiary, and even that is minimal because it lies where the "face" of Cassandra's Boreas is. Additionally, the cloud here is not drawn in a period manner, but is the modern "cotton candy" form of cloud."
  • A re-examination of Cassandra's Boreas shows that there is a significant difference, or a CD, between a Boreas affronty and a cloud regardless of whether the cloud is a heraldic cloud or a modern cloud. We are thus explicitly overturning the cited February 1994 precedent.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2005/07/05-07lar.html


December 2002 - collaring:

"Current precedent gives a CD for collaring an animal's head (as if the collar were a tertiary charge) but does not give a CD for adding a collar to a whole animal." December 2002 LoAR Cover Letter

July 1988 - couped vs. erased:

While the rules allow a minor for the difference between a head couped and a head erased, a comparison of the two emblazons indicated that the primary differences of type between the wolf’s head and the alaunt’s head here were that the ears were different (one was pricked and the other floppy) and that the wolf’s head was open to show the fangs. That did not seem enough to difference the two under our current rules. (LoAR Jul 88, p. 19) http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents/alisoun/AMEH.html


Identifiability:

Collected Precedents:


In the Ordinary:

(includes zephyr)

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