Editing Quadruped Postures

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=Precedents:=  
=Precedents:=  
==Jan 2018 - Putting Dormant to Rest==
As above, on the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for commentary to assist submitters in depicting animals dormant, as armory with charges in that posture has frequently been returned for redraw due to lack of identifiability. The intent of the request was that if we considered the examples of dormant found in tracts, we could give definitive guidelines on how to depict beasts dormant in a reliably recognizable manner.
It was noted in the LoPaD that "Dormant is found in period heraldic tracts as a theoretical posture (Legh's Accedens of Armory, 1576, fol.44, attributes Azure, a lion dormant Or to the Tribe of Judah), but one that is not found in actual armory prior to the 17th century." The same posture also appears in Bossewell's Workes of Armorie, 1592. Upon review of both the provided emblazons and descriptions of these tracts, however, it's revealed that the lion of Judah is not in a posture we have been using in the SCA. Legh's depiction of dormant is a variant of his rendering of couchant, with the spine horizontal, forepaws bent, hind legs tucked, tail situated away from the body, and torso lifted up off of the plane formed by the limbs. The only difference is in placement of the head. Rather than situated above the shoulders and perpendicular to the spine, the head extends out parallel to the spine, set just above the paws. Bossewell's lion is in a similar posture, with the head lowered so that its chin touches the top of its forepaws. Neither of them is dormant as submitters have been interpreting it, namely completely at rest and asleep.
The text description of the posture likewise makes it clear that the intent is not to depict an unconscious animal. Legh's tract has the following dialogue between master and student: "Q: Why do ye make him with his eies open & cal him dormant? A: Because isadore sayeth, their slepe is not with close eyen." Bossewelle also cites Isidore, noting "Isidore sayeth, that the Lyons eies are as though he were awake, when he sleapeth. Cum dormient, vigilant oculi."
When animals are depicted in SCA armory as completely asleep, with the silhouette obscured by the limbs tucked into the torso and the head resting against the forepaws, the charge itself often becomes unidentifiable. The depictions of dormant in heraldic tracts allow for identification of the animal, but do not match the popular understanding of the posture, nor do they justify the intent of most submitters to depict an animal with their bodies at rest and sound asleep.
While the College of Arms' policy generally allows for practices that are only attested in heraldic tracts, exceptions to this are made when the practice hinders clarity and identifiability, such as chasing/adumbration. Allowance of the term "dormant" in SCA heraldry has caused consistent hindrance in clarity and identifiability.
After the August 2018 LoAR, use of the term dormant will be discontinued, and armory submissions with asleep or unconscious animals will be returned. Charges in postures following the examples of Legh and Bossewell will be blazoned as couchant, head lowered and registered only if all identifying features are clearly visible in silhouette.
*https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2018/01/18-01cl.html#6


==Jan 2018 - quadruped affronty restricted==
==Jan 2018 - quadruped affronty restricted==
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