Editing Compass Rose, Compass Star

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Compass roses are put on maps to indicate direction/s and are a period motif - a multi-pointed star inscribed within an annulet, with the addition of a North mark.  

"Compass-star," is the term invented for the very common Society charge of "a mullet of four greater and four lesser points." (KFW, 30 Jun 79 [25], p. 59) Compass stars are a Step-From-Period Practice and are found under [[Mullet]] in the Ordinary.

A compass is a tool for drawing circles and curves - found under [[Caliper]] in the Ordinary. A compass is also a tool for finding magnetic north.

* ''[http://mistholme.com/dictionary/compass-rose/ Compass rose]''

 

* Compass rose

As discussed in [http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/sena.html#A2B A.2.B] armorial designs documented under the Core Style rules may only have a single step from period practice. This is a list of some specific items that are a step from period practice. In general, types of charges and motifs similar to these are likely to be ruled a step from period practice. However, if they can be demonstrated as being used as period charges in European heraldry, they will no longer be considered a step from period practice.

Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - [http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents.html] <br>

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

 

'' '''Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.'''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

==Definition:==  

===July 1987 - fimbriating compass star===

A compass star is too complex a charge to fimbriate. (LoAR 26 Jul 87, p. 9)</span>

===June 1985 - basic compass rose===

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/baldwin.html

===July 1981 - default compass rose===

He has established that this sort of symbol is in period. By default a compass rose has a fleur-de-lys in chief to point to north. WVS [48] [LoAR 29 Jul 81] [Overturning "Compass roses and Mariner's Roses are too complex to be used in the SCA. WVS [30] [LoAR 28 Nov 80], p. 7"]

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/wilhelm/atoc.html

==Registerability:==

''(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)''

===August 2014 - compass stars elongated to base===

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'''.

===October 2011 - compass stars SFPP===

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2011/10/11-10lar.html

===Precedents of Elsbeth Ann Roth (2000) - compass rose was "weirdness":'''

* Inverting a compass rose is registerable, but a weirdness. ['''Tane Verloren''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2000/05/00-05lar.html 05/00], A-Ansteorra]

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/elsbeth/armory.html#COMPASSROSE

===Precedents of Elsbeth Ann Roth (1999-2001):'''

* Current precedent is that we only allow the piercing of charges on fieldless badges when those charges were found pierced in period armory (thus disallowing omni-tinctured tertiary charges). While a ''compass star'' is closely related to a mullet, it is nevertheless a different charge, one not found in period armory. Therefore we are not inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt and allow it to be pierced as we would a mullet or spur rowel. ['''Eridana Ambra Dragotta''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2000/01/00-01lar.html 01/00], R-Caid]</span>

* [''... a compass star pierced within a bordure Or''] While we are blazoning this as pierced, this does not mean that we will allow compass stars to be pierced on fieldless badges. In this case, it is simply shorthand for ''on a compass star a roundel per saltire azure and gules''. ['''Alwyn of Kittisford''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2000/07/00-07lar.html 07/00], A-Outlands]

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/elsbeth/armory.html#COMPASSSTAR

===October 1993 - mullets of six, compass stars, suns===

We grant no difference between mullets of six points and compass stars, nor between compass stars and suns, so all three are considered as variations on the same charge. Using them all in a single device is not acceptable style. (Isabella Julietta Diego y Vega, October, 1993, pg. 19)

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/bruce/C.html

===September 1993 - stars, suns, sword-and-dagger rule:'''

[''A garden rose slipped and leaved and on a chief three garden rosebuds''] There is a longstanding policy that one may not use two close variants of the same charge in one design. It creates visual confusion, where the whole purpose of heraldry is instant identification. The almost-but-not-quite identical charges need not be a single group; this is not related to our ban on "slot-machine heraldry." (We wouldn't allow, for example, ''a sun between three compass stars'' either.) If there's not a CD between the two charges, they should not be used together in the same design. (Joanna d'Oléron, September, 1993, pg. 24)</span>

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/bruce/C.html

==Conflict:==  

===January 2003 - mullet of 4 vs compass star:===

[http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2003/01/03-01lar.html January 2003 LoAR]

 

There is no difference given between a ''compass rose'' and a ''compass star within an annulet''. ['''Stephen macThomas''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2000/06/00-06lar.html 06/00], R-Ansteorra]

===Precedents of Elsbeth Ann Roth (1999-2001):===

* [''(Fieldless) On a compass star gules a cross botonny argent''] The badge conflicts with ... ''Argent upon a sun gules a dexter hand apaumy couped argent.'' There is only the CD for fieldlessness. [''Implying no CD between a sun and a compass star and that suns/compass stars are not simple enough for X4.j(ii) to give a CD for type-only change of the tertiaries''] ['''Dun Carraig, Barony of''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/1999/10/lar.html 10/99], R-Atlantia]

* [''suns vs. mullets'']... as suns and mullets are not substantially [different], there is nothing for changing the type... '''Ursella of Rowantree''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/1999/11/lar.html 11/99], R-Caid]

* [''a compass star pierced''] After much thought, we decided that piercing is worth a CD when drawn large enough to be equivalent to adding a tertiary charge, as it is done here; i.e. when it is clearly visible and takes up much of the space available to it. ['''Sebastian of Dragon's Mist''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/1999/12/lar.html 12/99], A-An Tir]

* There is no difference given between a ''compass rose'' and a ''compass star within an annulet''. ['''Stephen macThomas''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2000/06/00-06lar.html 06/00], R-Ansteorra]

* There is a CD between suns and estoiles but not the substantial difference needed for X.2 (Difference of Primary Charges) to apply. ['''Geneviève de la Loire''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2000/07/00-07lar.html 07/00], R-Atlantia]

* Current policy is to not grant different between mullets of six or more points... ['''Martin Diaz''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2000/08/00-08lar.html 08/00], R-East]</span>

* As neither a compass star nor a mullet of four points are period charges, and they differ only by the addition of the lesser points, there is not a CD between a mullet of four points and a compass star... ['''William Killian''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2001/01/01-01lar.html 01/01], R-Ansteorra]

* There is not a CD between a compass star and a sun... ['''Taliesin de Morlet''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2001/03/01-03lar.html 03/01], R-Caid]

* By prior precedent there is not a CD between a compass star and a mullet of four points, nor is there a CD between a compass star and a riven star... ['''Artemisia da Quieto d'Arzenta''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2001/04/01-04lar.html 04/01], R-Lochac]

* [''a compass star pierced vs a compass star''] This is clear ... and a second [CD] for the addition of the piercing, which is large enough to be equivalent to a tertiary charge. ['''Eric of Clan Smith''', [http://sca.org/heraldry/loar/2001/07/01-07lar.html 07/01], A-An Tir]

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/elsbeth/armory.html#COMPASSSTAR

===September 1995 - compass rose vs compass star===

[a compass rose vs a compass star] [There is a CD] for the difference between a compass rose with its prominent annulet and a compass star. (Northshield, Principality of, 9/95 p. 15)

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/daud2/armm2q.html

===October 1993 - mullets of 6, compass stars, suns===

We grant no difference between mullets of six points and compass stars, nor between compass stars and suns, so all three are considered as variations on the same charge. Using them all in a single device is not acceptable style. (Isabella Julietta Diego y Vega, October, 1993, pg. 19)</span>

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/bruce/C.html

===June 1993 - suns vs multi-point mullets vs compass stars:'''

There's ...no difference between ''suns'' and ''multi-pointed mullets'' --- which includes ''compass stars''. (Friedrich von Rabenstein, June, 1993, pg. 18)

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/bruce/C.html

=Ordinary=

* Compass - see [http://oanda.sca.org/ordinary/C.html#caliper Caliper]

* [http://oanda.sca.org/oanda_desc.cgi?p=COMPASS%20ROSE Compass rose] (see also escarbuncle)

* Compass star - see [http://oanda.sca.org/ordinary/M.html#mullet Mullet]

[[Category:Armory]] [[Category:Charges]]