[antir-heralds] Rocks on devices?

[Britt]

> Someone who goes by the nickname "Stonebreaker" has
> asked me to look into a device for him that would have
> a hammer hitting a chisel into a cracked or broken
> stone.  How would/could I emblazon this and what
> colors would you recommend?  Is gray used or should I
> use Argent to represent silver?  Thank you to any who
> respond.

A rock is a period charge dating back at least to 1586.  It's an
irregular lump that, well, looks like a rock. :)

Remembering the 'slot machine' rule (RfS section VIII.1.a.) you need
to assure that the rock, the hammer, and the chisel aren't in the same
charge group.  I'd suggest the chisel be a maintained charge,
protruding from the rock but small and insignificant visually.

How about a hammer and rock in pale?  The hammer could be fesswise or
bendwise and the rock sitting there looking dangerously solid.  The
chisel might issue vertically from the rock to be a target for the
hammer. You'd have two charges in the primary group - hammer and rock,
and the chisel would be maintained.
(Note, this is a design idea and would have to be checked for conflict
and such after the final form is decided upon - I make no guarantees
of being clear yet.)

Gray is argent, heraldically, and so goes on a color or neutral (half
color, half Or) field.  In submission _always_ use white for argent,
even if the final display will use gray.  This avoids the gray looking
blackish on the form.
But with heraldry, tincture is a matter of personal taste.  Perhaps
Stonebreaker wants a red hammer and black rock?  Or green rock?  Tell
him he can have any of the seven heraldic tinctures he wants and give
him some markers to play with.  He might like something dramatic
instead of naturalistic.

The concept is perfectly fine.  You'll want to look into hammer types,
too.  There are several types that can be used in heraldry.  If you
can find someone nearby who owns a PicDic, that'd be a good place to
look.  If not, give me a holler and I can send you scans of the hammer
pages.  But remember that artistic interpretation is what makes
heraldry personal.  It needs to look like, but not necessarily be
identical to, a standard form.  So if I send you pics, let
Stonebreaker draw his hammer as he likes it and then make sure it
looks like a type we can blazon.  That's all there is to it. :)

You didn't mention is Stonebreaker's name is registered yet or if
he'll be submitting one with his armory, but the surname 'Stonebreker'
is dated 1380 in Reaney & Wilson, so it can be more than just a
nickname, if he wants.

- Teceangl