[antir-heralds] Question

[chrisact at qwickconnect.net]

Caitrina Lions Blood wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> I'm helping Ealeen get started on her heraldic journey and suggested she
> send a message to the list as the heralds of An Tir are always willing to
> share their wealth of knowledge.  As she's already stated, she's a very new
> herald (it's been almost half a month now).  
>   

Welcome to the madhouse, Ealeen!  };-)

> I've seen the sketch of the device in question and can clarify that the
> goose is in base, not chief.  For some clarification this would be:
>
> (almost plain English) Red field, red aczuthers down the middle of a white
> chevron, in base a white goose close regardant (wings close to body, head
> looking back) holding in it's mouth a white roundel.  
>   

Ah, then: /Gules on a chevron argent [X number of] [aczuthers] gules, in 
base a goose [close] regardant maintaining in its beak a roundel argent/

About the three parts in [square brackets]:

The blazon should mention how many "aczuthers" are involved (including 
saying so if semy).

I still don't know what "aczuthers" are supposed to be. Webster's 2nd 
and the online OED don't have such a word--indeed, !even Google! hasn't 
such a word. Are they acanthus leaves? For a picture of acanthus, try
http://www.rencentral.com/GSS/big/YouthChamp.jpg
or
http://ah.phpwebhosting.com/a/OUTofBFLO/switz/ariana/image/p1010254.jpg
or
http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=95653&rendTypeId=4
I think acanthus is what's mean, since the OP said "The aczuthers are 
those leaves that you usually see used in scrolls
etc."
?:-)   <---- someone with a question on his mind.

Also, the default position for a goose is close, so it need not be 
blazoned if merely close. I believe (but those with more experience in 
SCA heraldry might correct me) that it need not be blazoned as close if 
it's both close and something else, such as regardant.

You say you've seen a sketch---is there any chance you could scan it and 
post it somewhere (such as photobucket)? Please, do not try and attach 
it to an email to this list; the list-server automagically removes 
attachments. It would be especially useful to see the "aczuthers". ;-)

> I know the College will help encourage Ealeen on this journey and welcome
> her as they had welcomed me years ago.
>   

Welcome to the ma --- ah, that is, welcome to the wonderful, strange, 
delightful, strangely delightful world of heraldry, Ealeen. May your 
journey be filled with awe and learning, may you find friends and 
knowledge, solace and joy, may you find new doors each time you 'finish' 
a 'room', and may it last you all your life. :-)

> Caitrina
>   

Thank you, m'lady Caitrina, for clarifying what the emblazon would look 
like. :-)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: antir-heralds-bounces at antir.sca.org
> [mailto:antir-heralds-bounces at antir.sca.org] On Behalf Of
> chrisact at qwickconnect.net
> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 2:24 PM
> To: antir-heralds at antir.sca.org
> Subject: Re: [antir-heralds] Question
>
> Allison wrote:
>   
>> Greetings everyone,
>> I am a brand new herald and would dearly love some help. I was asked for
>> assistance with a devise (described in her words):
>>
>> "Red background, white goose with white rondell in mouth. Silver Chevron
>> with Aczuthers (sp?) style border in Red".
>>
>> The aczuthers are those leaves that you usually see used in scrolls 
>> etc. (I
>> have illuminated a few scrolls):)
>> She is wanting a conflict check.
>>
>> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Yours,
>> Ealeen Sable Loat
>>     
>
> Errr....
>
> Acanthus? Is that what you mean? Oh, and "silver" and "white" are the 
> same thing---argent.
>
> OK, I'll try and properly blazon that:  /Gules, a chevron, in chief a 
> goose maintaining a roundel [in its beak] argent/  This assumes that the 
> goose&roundel is "upwards from" the chevron, which is in more or less 
> the middle of the field. She can't have the chevron "passing over" the 
> goose&roundel, because they are the same tincture.
>
> You'll notice I've left off the acanthus leaves. There are three reasons.
>
> (1) I can't be sure I know what you mean. What is getting a border --- 
> or do you mean edge --- and what (if anything) is the difference between 
> acanthus leaves and a "[acanthus] style border"?
>
> (2) I keep landing up mentally picturing red on red.
>
> (3) I believe acanthus leaves, *especially* if in the area where a 
> bordure would be, would look far too much like a laurel wreath, which is 
> a reserved charge in the SCA.
> ---indeed, there is only one armorial item with acanthus leaves in it, 
> and that goes back to 1982:
> http://oanda.sca.org/cgi-bin/oanda_name.cgi?p=Ivan%20Gregorivich
>
> A clearer description would be deeply appreciated. :-)
>
> I hope this has been of some help.
>
>
> ~~Basil Dragonstrike
>   


~~Basil Dragonstrike

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