Is this charge an heraldic panther? I have some HP’s in my collection, but none look quite like this. Any ideas welcome.
http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l515/StarScepter/Baeker.jpg
Dear Scott,
An heraldic panther is like the zoological panther but is shown ‘incensed’ - that is with flames issuing from the mouth and ears. It is tinctured argent and its body generally is semy of roundels that are invariably tinctured of various heraldic colours. The Duke of Beaufort’s arms dexter supporter is an heraldic panther.
With every good wish
John
Dear Scott,
The beast is indeed an heraldic panther, but, German not British.
It is the sole charge of the Austrian province of Styria.
Regards,
Iain Boyd
The Panther in the Arms of Steiermark (Styria):
In German heraldry, Panthers usually are incensed, but I do not recall a single one which would be semy of roundels.
There is a certain variety of the beast’s legs. The front legs tend to be eagle’s talons, but also lion’s paws are common. The rear leg’s may be lion’s paws but also bull’s legs are possible.
Here the coa of Ingolstadt in Lower Bavaria which displays the panther of the former counts palatinate of Ortenburg.
@ Mr. McMillan,
Thank you for fixing my image. When I imbedded the image it showed up as the dreaded red "X" in a white box. That usually means the poster didn’t do something right. I’m willing to learn if you are willing to tell me how to do it properly… or point me to a tutorial.
I posted the image on Photobucket and attempted to link it to my OP, but as you noticed, it didn’t work. Any help appreciated.
It also comes as standard equipment on the front and rear car number plates….. each region displaying the arms on cars registered in that region.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u119/bbheraldry/AHS Images/Carplate-Steiermark.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u119/bbheraldry/AHS Images/Carplate-Niederosterreich.jpg
and yes, it was as cold as it looks.
There is also the Black Panther of Carantania (partly present day Slovenia and Austria).
http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Caranthania.jpg
All of these are very cool…thanks for posting them
This is a test image. I’m just trying to learn how to imbed images from Photobucket.
http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l515/StarScepter/Varndell.jpg
and this one…
http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l515/StarScepter/testImage.jpg
From Canada
Incensed: http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=376
Zoological: http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=240
Incensed and semé: http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=1017
Not Incensed: http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2015
OK, I’ve got to ask: why are panthers shown incensed? Is there some story behind it? We have a small panther in our home and he tends to bite, but thankfully has not produced fire.
The flames originated as a pictorial substitution for the fabulous scent typical for the panthers of ancient legends and tales.
For an informative and entertaining discussion of the panther of the medieval bestiaries, see http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast79.htm. Click the "gallery" tab for representations in various forms.
According to the Bestiary Joe linked, in heraldry a panther with flames should be blazoned a Panther Incensed. SO, there is such a thing as a panther without the flames? Or has it just become custom in some jurisdictions to automatically use the flames?