[ANSTHRLD] Device check

[tmcd at panix.com]

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005, Schalles, Francis <francis.schalles at ttuhsc.edu> wrote:
> The Japanese crane is what is desired and since his persona is from
> that region it is an important part of his device. He does
> understand there maybe some corrections allowed as long as "two
> cranes are used". I will advise him of the possible issues if he
> insists on the Japanese crane.

I actually did a precedents dive.  Initially, it looked bad
(Sept. 1994 LoAR, Ansteorran returns):

    Patrick Donovan of Warwick.  Device.  Per bend azure and argent, a
    bend sinister counterchanged between two Japanese cranes displayed
    in annulo gules.

      The Japanese crane displayed in annulo was returned for being
      not identifiable some time ago, having more in common with
      roundels and crescents than European renditions of birds.

Mind you, I saw no evidence that Japanes cranes per se were returned
before that.  The previous return I see is from September 1993, where
the Japanese crane was just called as having lost all its identifying
characteristics, and therefore conflicting with an eagle.

However, I just found this in the April 2005 LoAR, Atlantian
acceptances, originally from their 23 December 2004 Letter of Intent:

  Ichijo Honen. Badge. Sable, a crescent bendwise, within its horns a
  Japanese crane displayed bendwise argent.

      The Japanese crane displayed as depicted in this badge has been
      registered twice before in the SCA and, based on those
      depictions, is legless by default.

I've taken the liberty of putting it at
<http://www.panix.com/~tmcd/crane.gif>
It had a sinuous neck, though not quite as sinuous as I think a
natural crane has, and not really an identifiable body (no torso per
se, but a triangular area with feathers in a different direction).
But looking at it, I immediately think "Japanese crane".
For something quite similar, you can see
<http://www.lib.duke.edu/ias/eac/japan/images/crane1.JPG>, though the
SCA registration is better: it has identifiable and natural feathers
and the neck is more naturally thinner and more sinuous.
(The pre-1990 Japan Airlines logo at
<http://www.jal.com/en/history/history/image/80s/pic_cover06.gif> is
even more stylized.)

In Laurel-level commentary, there were complaints about
recognizability of this particular design, but they were centered more
on the odd arrangement of crane and crescent.

So I think that currently a Japanese crane is a go.

Danihel "no pun intended" Lindum Colonia
-- 
"Me, I love the USA; I never miss an episode." -- Paul "Fruitbat" Sleigh
Tim McDaniel; Reply-To: tmcd at panix.com