Re: Heraldic help

[Heather Swann <swannh@psi.com>]

Poster: Heather Swann <swannh@psi.com>

>>>> >> 2) The drawing is considerably more important that the blazon.
>>>> <snip>
>>>
>>>> Why is this?  I'm just curious, because frankly the ability to write is
>>>> more common in the SCA than the ability to draw.
>
>>>And true, while more people can write than they can draw, as someone said,
>>>more people can draw than they can blazon properly.
>>
>>But the blazon is the herald's job.  Are you saying the local herald might
>>not have a clue?
>
>While I cannot make any judgement on any specific herald, unfortunately,
>sometimes this is the correct answer.  
>snip>>>>
>>>> What's the rationale behind this?  I'd really like to know. I would think
>>>> going by the words would make it easier on the heralds.  Goodness knows,
>>>> it's hard enough finding someone to draw up your device, much less
draw it
>>>> up well- it takes time and skill.
>>>
>>>snip>>>>
>Laurel registers the picture for a number of reasons:
>
>1) Presumably the submitter has seen the picture and knows that this is
>what s/he wants.
>
>2) Sometimes the same device  can be blazoned two or more different ways:
>
>	"Gules, on a saltire azure fimbriated thirteen mullets argent."
>	"Gules, a saltire argent charged with another azure charged with thirteen
>		 mullets argent."
>	"Gules, a saltire argent voided azure mullety argent."
>
>All of these heraldically describe the Confederate battle flag. (Chosen
>because almost everybody is familiar with it and it fits the parameters
>under discussion.  Please no flames whether this is a good/bad symbol.)
>
>3) Tradition!  Judging from the Ordinary, some things registered in the
>early Dark Ages of the SCA were so weird that they literally couldn't be
>blazoned properly.  I'm not the only herald that looks at some of the
>blazons and says "Huh?!"
>
>4) Absolute certainty of what that submission actually is.  (And hence the
>need for a recognizable drawing!)

Ah, I see, very good points.
>
>I believe the Great Seahorse Identification Project was mentioned earlier
>in this thread.  As a refresher for those who may have missed it: 
<snip>
>
>Without the pictures on file, it would have been impossible to straighten
>out.  (And to those who may be thinking 'so what?" would you like your
>spiffy new scroll to have the wrong picture on it because the poor scribe
>didn't know which of two choices the blazon meant?)

Good point- we usually get a copy of the arms involved.....as a scribe, I
can appreciate that!
>
>
>Alanna Volchevo Lesa
>Partan Pursuivant, Barony of Lochmere
>Laurel Staff Minion

Thank you for clarifying this for me!

Miri
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