I’ve been trying to come up with a design for my crest, mantling and all the stuff that goes around the sheild. I asked my friends to name 3 things that I’m all about… Pitbulls, mopars and Steelers football. From looking at the designs of others, I’ve noticed some traditional Duncan crests (on top of the helmut) use a greyhound on a wreath inside of a belt, but instead of going with that, using a Pitbull instead of a Greyhound, I was kind of thinking of using two Pitbulls in support of the sheild… one on each side.

I’ve seen similiar designs using Leopards and Boars. Both of those designs have the supporting animal standing on it’s hind legs, but can I have them sitting beside the sheild looking straight ahead instead? Kind of like the gargoyle statues you see on buildings, but only mine will be Pitbulls. The reason for this is that I want to put collars on the dogs and I want pendants hanging from the collars. I think the pendants might not show up well if I have the dogs standing on hind-legs. One dogs pendant will be the Mopar pentastar and the others will be a Steelers logo (which will also represent Western Pennsylvania). I also realize that by using a Pentastar & a Steelers logo that I maybe infringing on someone elses copy-right, but if I do try to go with something like that I’ll write them for usage permission.

Now, on top of the sheild will be a helmut facing forward. On top of the Helmut will be a circle wreath (instead of a belt) and inside the wreath will be a personal symbol. Now, if you are with me so far, do you think I should also add some kind of ‘drapery’ to tie everything together?

So, what do you think of my idea of using two Pitbulls in suppport, Pendant collars on the dogs, a wreath with a personal symbol on top of a helmet, et al? Comments, suggestions, critisism welcome. After the design is decided upon, I will have to find an artist to draw it… my pitbull drawings would truely make you laugh your ass off, I’m no artist and they look more like stick-figure horses than dogs :confused:

I think you’re going to hear a lot about how you should try and avoid the use of supporters if you plan to display your arms in public.

I’d stick with the pitbull in the crest.

I second putting a pitbull in the crest. I’d suggest giving it a collar and pendant with your personal symbol on the pendant or have it resting its paw on the symbol.

Andrew J Vidal;54369 wrote:

I think you’re going to hear a lot about how you should try and avoid the use of supporters if you plan to display your arms in public.

I’d stick with the pitbull in the crest.

Okay, so supporters are not preferred for public display. Any particular reason why? (Note: I wasn’t really all that enthused about the supporters idea either, I couldn’t get anything to look right, so maybe it would be better to stick with the Pitbull/gargoyle statues supporting my drive-way instead…)

This design stuff is actually harder than what I thought it would be. I’ll probably end up with something like this:

http://www.clan-duncan.co.uk/images/crests/duncan-ardownie-crest.html

Here are the Boar supporters:

http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal/displayimage.php?album=7&pos=40

This one got me thinking about more exotic things:

http://www.clan-duncan.co.uk/duncan-arms.html

Here are some of the tradition Duncan COA’s:

http://www.clan-duncan.co.uk/duncan-armorial-arms.html

Joseph Allen Duncan;54371 wrote:

Okay, so supporters are not preferred for public display. Any particular reason why?

Read these threads first, and then I’ll give you others:

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=133&highlight=supporters

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3803&highlight=supporters

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3254&highlight=supporters

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1504&highlight=supporters

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1278&highlight=supporters

Joseph Allen Duncan;54368 wrote:

One dogs pendant will be the Mopar pentastar and the others will be a Steelers logo (which will also represent Western Pennsylvania). I also realize that by using a Pentastar & a Steelers logo that I maybe infringing on someone elses copy-right, but if I do try to go with something like that I’ll write them for usage permission.

In my humble opinion, you should avoid using any corporate symbols in your arms.  Legal issues aside, arms are a personal symbol representing you, and I don’t see an advertisement for a corporate entity as consistent with that.  I’m sure with some thought and help from folks here, you could come up with something that represents your interests, but that is not someone else’s logo.

Michael Swanson;54373 wrote:

Read these threads first, and then I’ll give you others:

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=133&highlight=supporters

 

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3803&highlight=supporters

 

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3254&highlight=supporters

 

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1504&highlight=supporters

 

http://americanheraldry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1278&highlight=supporters

That was educational. (I couldn’t access the last two thread links for some reason, it said I didn’t have permission and asked if I was trying to edit someone elses post). So Supporter traditional express some form of Nobility or Social rank in non-American lands. My mistake for not reading more before.

The idea of a laurel wreath in the crest was interesting, too. So now I’m leaning back toward basics - A helmut, a belt or wreath circle with a dog and my personal ‘logo’ inside, the ribbon with the motto, and Manteling.