ANSTHRLD - Need some help conflict checking

[Timothy A. McDaniel]

> 1) Device: field azure, with a rapier and sewing needle (with the
> thread) crossed at the top and a dragonfly (the main item)
> underneath, all argent.

I assume the dragonfly is in its default posture, "tergiant", seen
with its wings opened to the sides and viewed from above, head
upwards?

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"The main item" makes me wonder about the relative sizes.  If they
were all of roughly similar visual weight, then it would be what we
call "slot machine" -- three different types of charge in the same
group -- which is cause for return.

If, however, the dragonfly is indeed substantially larger, then
"Azure, a dragonfly and in chief in saltire a rapier and a sewing
needed threaded argent", because you describe the primary charge (the
main item) first.

You also have to blazon the orientations if needed, which may mean
sticking in an "inverted" or two.  Swords are hilt down by default.
Without checking the Pict Dict, I don't know whether needles are hole
to chief in their default orientation or point to chief.  I think it's
hole to chief.

However, "an X and a Y in saltire" is quite an SCA cliche, done pretty
frequently in the SCA and rarely done in period.  Lemme guess: they do
rapier combat and sewing?  "My interests on my arms" is another SCA
cliche; the cases from period (not all that many) tend to be for
merchants having tools of their trade or their merchandise on their
arms.

Were I consulting with the client, I would therefore point out that,
although it appears to be registerable and therefore we wouldn't
return it (barring conflict), just doing the dragonfly, or three of
them or six of them, would be far closer to classic style, and would
they like to consider a design like that instead?

(I would also point out that small details like the threading of a
needle would often be left to the discretion of the heraldic artist
and not blazoned.  Mind you, I have to add the same caveat: if they do
specifically want it threaded, they can certainly blazon it, and
there's a decent chance Laurel will leave the blazon alone and
therefore include it.  And, certainly, threading it makes it more
distinguishable from any other long skinny object.  If they want
"inverted", I'd point out that the heraldic defaults are that for good
reason, that the charges tend to lie the default way in armory, and
would they like to consider putting them in the usual orientation?)

Daniel de Lincolia
-- 
Tim McDaniel is tmcd at jump.net; if that fail,
    tmcd at us.ibm.com is my work account.
"To join the Clueless Club, send a followup to this message quoting everything
up to and including this sig!" -- Jukka.Korpela at hut.fi (Jukka Korpela)
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