I am blazoning the arms for a priest of the Episcopal Church of the US. How do I properly blazon the clerical hat for a priest as approved by the Earl Marshall? I know that the cord and tassels are sable and argent.
larrysnyder;102861 wrote:
I am blazoning the arms for a priest of the Episcopal Church of the US. How do I properly blazon the clerical hat for a priest as approved by the Earl Marshall? I know that the cord and tassels are sable and argent.
You don’t need to blazon it, other than as "a clerical hat befitting his degree" or words to that effect. Grants to clergymen by the Chief Herald of Ireland do not describe the hat as part of the blazon proper but add the words after the blazon "to be borne with such external additaments as are proper to his degree."
Same here… I typically see "ensigned with a galero of priest/bishop/etc." Joseph’s suggestion saves you from having to worry about what happens when/if he gets promoted to a higher rank, which would change his galero.
This approach makes very good sense. And FWIW it parallels Lyon Court practice re: helmets in the arms of laymen - but AFAIK not their practice for clerical arms, at least for Church of Scotland, which specify a Geneva cap and the number and colors of tassels. Ah well, consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds… 
Thanks to all respondents. You have answered my question.
So are you free to share the arms?
Blazon and maybe artwork?
(I’m missing my minimum daily requirement of eye candy )
The blazon may be tricky, but assuming we can get over that hurdle I really like the design! Conceptually it reminds me a bit of some of the (to those bred on British & French practice) bizarre field partings in German heraldry, and the surname does appear German.
How are you blazonning it? I’m just out of the hospital & a bit out of it for the time being…
I believe there are two good alternatives, I prefer #2:
1. Per pale nowy conjoined counter-nowy Ermine and Gules two Roundels in pale counterchanged the Gules charged with a Cross crosslet Or.
2. Per pale nowy conjoined counter-nowy Ermine and Gules two Roundels in pale counterchanged the one in base charged with a Cross crosslet Or
The seldom used Pale nowy conjoined counter-nowy forms the letter “S” upon the shield. The cross crosslet in the base roundel is taken from the arms of Fr. Stephen’s parish arms, Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, Portland, OR, A.C.H.Registration number 20100305A.
Wow! - those are mouthfuls
You say "seldom used Pale…" etc. which suggests that there are earlier examples? How were they blazoned? Were they in English or maybe German? Inquiring minds want to know!
What seems to be seldom used is the "Pale nowy conjoined counter-nowy"
Sorry if I was unclear (or too lazy to type the whole thing:) )
I was just wondering where you came up with this interesting pattern, and how it was blazoned or described in the past, however infrequently used.
I meant that the pale nowey counter nowey conjoined seems seldom (if ever) used.
Did you find the term in one of the heraldic dictionaries?
The design came first. I was looking for a line of partition that suggested the letter "S". I sketched the result and circulated it in the forums of both the AHS and the IAAH. All agreed that the blazon would be: Per pale nowy conjoined counter-nowy and two Roundels in pale. I’m not sure that my design is completely unique, but none of the respondents had encountered it before.
Ah - Thanks! I must have missed (or forgotten, a common ailment at my age) your query here. If the forum members agree on the blazon, that’s good enough for me.
Again, it’s a nice design.
