[ANSTHRLD] Quick check if I may
tmcd at panix.com
tmcd at panix.com
Wed Aug 20 23:39:17 PDT 2008
On Wed, 20 Aug 2008, kevinkeary at aol.com <heralds at lists.ansteorra.org> wrote:
> I'd be surprised if "fieldless, a plate" wasn't clear.
Nit: the standard wording in LoARs would be "(Fieldless) A plate".
> One CD for fieldless, one for "You can't just register a plate all
> by itself." But I haven't checked.
I find the Solveig precedent in April 2002, upheld in May 2007.
Solveig Throndardottir. Badge. (Fieldless) A lozenge Or.
The lozenge was originally blazoned as fesswise, but, as noted in
the February 2002 LoAR, "Because lozenges could be drawn with
various proportions in period, including a square set on its
corner (which can be neither fesswise nor palewise), it does not
make sense to distinguish different proportions of lozenge in
blazon."
We do not register fieldless badges which appear to be independent
forms of armorial display. Charges such as lozenges, billets, and
roundels are all both standard heraldic charges and "shield
shapes" for armorial display. The SCA has never protected armory
consisting of plain tinctures, except for two examples that are
particularly famous: the (important non-SCA) arms of Brittany,
Ermine, and the (important non-SCA) flag of Libya, Vert. If we do
not protect, and have never protected, the arms Or, we should not
be concerned about the possible appearance of a display of Or by
using a single lozenge Or as a fieldless badge. This is parallel
to our practices concerning inescutcheons of pretense. To quote
RfS XI.4, Arms of Pretense and Augmentations of Honor, "Similarly,
an augmentation of honor often, though not necessarily, takes the
form of an independent coat placed on an escutcheon or
canton. Generally, therefore, a canton or a single escutcheon may
only be used if it is both uncharged and of a single tincture."
This rule demonstrates that an uncharged escutcheon shape in a
single plain tincture does not appear to be a display of an
independent coat of arms.
Therefore, a "shield shape" which is also a standard heraldic
charge will be acceptable as as a fieldless badge in a plain
tincture, as long as the tincture is not one of the plain
tinctures that is protected armory in the SCA. This explicitly
overturns the precedent "We do not normally register fieldless
badges consisting only of forms of armorial display, such as
roundels, lozenges and delfs in plain tinctures, since in use the
shape does not appear to be a charge, but rather the field itself"
(LoAR January 1998).
Note that this does not change our long-standing policy about such
"shield shape" charges used in fieldless badges if the tincture is
not plain (thus, divided or with a field treatment), or if the
charge is itself charged. Such armory will continue to be returned
for the appearance of an independent form of armorial display.
Her badge, (Fieldless) On a sun azure a hammer argent, is
released.
But conflict with
Erryk Blackwolf|7306|B|Per bend sinister sable and gules, a plate.
The May 2007 confirmation has
Isabeau de Valle. Badge. (Fieldless) On a plate fimbriated gules a
hare courant sable.
As noted on the LoI:
The SCA considers simple-edged roundels to be a medium
for heraldic display, and does not register badges
that start "(Fieldless) On a roundel..." ...
This is sufficient grounds for return. ...
The "simple-edged" part is not in the original ruling but at least was
not contradicted in May 2007, though that's a weak argument.
"(Fieldless) A plate nebuly", maybe?!
Dannet "tasteless^W tacky^W disreputable spooge joke omitted" Lincoln
--
Tim McDaniel; Reply-To: tmcd at panix.com
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