Heraldic Ideas for the Combined A&S Orders

New Order Ideas

The deadline for suggestions is May 10th.

Please send all of your suggestions to HL Gianna Viviana, the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences at artssciences@calontir.org or in person at Queen's Prize.

References and Suggestions

Mistress Alys Mackyntoich's "Alys's Simple Guide to Naming Awards and Orders" is specifically written to help non-heralds devise order names.

Note: There are two points mentioned in the article that due to more recent research need to be updated:

1. Tenne, sanguine, and sinople are usable Heraldic Tinctures for order names, as well as ordinary color words that can be found in period heraldic treatises and armorials to describe blazon terms
2. Objects no longer need to be an attested heraldic charge, just a period artifact, animal or plant that some human being somewhere knew about prior to 1650.

New precedent for cultures that don't have later period European-style orders per the December 2022 Cover Letter: "...Prior precedent held that order names could only be created in languages from places that actually had orders in period. [April 2011 Cover Letter]. However, "orders" as such appear to be unique to Europe (although research on this is ongoing). Given the changes to the Society's mission statement, limiting order names to only elements from European cultures is overly restrictive and inconsistent with our treatment of other names. Therefore, effective as of the date of this letter, we will allow order names to be created using the names of deities, personal names, or heraldic charges that can be documented to the SCA's period in places other than Europe." https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2022/12/22-12cl.html#3

In general:

• Keep it simple. Your artisans and scribes will run into many difficulties with a too complex design, like crenellations or embattlements, etc.
  • Someone suggested the following: an ideal award is able to be drawn on a quarter with a Sharpie in 30 seconds and be recognisable at arms length
• Please remember your minorities. Certain things, like reference to some Saxon and Norse gods or runes, are coopted by white supremacists.
• Also, even though the Cross of Calatrava is the kingdom's symbol, it is nonetheless a very fancy cross. It is both a difficult design to cut out of metal, and it's also.....a cross.

Creatures

Bear

Strong, sort-of lives in Calontir

A reference to Brummbar, who (from what I’ve read) gave out the first Silver Hammer and Calon Lily awards (GoA). Could also do a gold bear to keep the aesthetics of the awards the same.

See also "Sets" below.

Bee

See "Sets" below

Chimera of Owl and Lion

The head of an owl, while the body is that of a lion, maybe with a chatelaine in it's beak which holds scissors, a needle and thread, paint brushes -- some of the tools of the arts? In it's paws it holds the familiar hammer? Its plumage on its head can be yellow, indicative of the former swan.

Maybe wearing an apron?

Cow

"Cowontir"

Demobison

aka Flying Bison, see Flying Golden Boar

At one point in the long ago days, the Order of the Swan had been rejected (because it already existed in the real world), the Order of the Trillium Argentium was also rejected, so the AoA level arts order met and discussed possible new names. Baron Steven Ironhand got up and proposed "The Order of the Silver Demobison", and to support his proposal he told us the story of Argent, the silver demobison (http://www.calonsong.org/argent/argent.html), who swept the Pennsic A&S contests and impressed his fellow demobisons. The order voted overwhelmingly to become the Order of the Silver Demobison. The crown did not go along with the vote taken that day. The Kingdom has registered a badge with the bat-winged bison, but has never assigned it to an award, order or office.

The swan award thing was my fault. I blithely stated at a BFS scribes guild meeting that I saw a 16th C painting at the Nelson Atkins of a man (dont remember his name), member of the order of the swan. -Flavin

Enfield

"Purpure, on a fess dove-tailed argent, an enfield statant (standing) sable winged Or.

an enfield, chosen here because it's unique. Retains the dovetails of the leather mallet and gold wing of the swan. The ancient tradition among the O'Kellys is that they have borne this fabulous animal since the days of King Tadhg Mór Ua Cellaigh who fell "fighting like a wolf dog" on the side of the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. When Tadhg Mor fell this mythical beast issued from the nearby sea to protect the dead body of the chief until it was retrieved for proper burial by his kinsmen.

Flying Golden Boar

One of the wonders made by the dwarves in Norse mythology.

Fox

Clever, lives in Calontir

Tools and other objects

Anvil, Winged

A winged anvil, AoA

Because it's difficult to get your A&S career off the ground. Retain the dovetail divisions from leather mallet award and the gold wing of the swan. So "Purpure, on a fess dove-tailed argent, a winged anvil sable winged Or.

Apron

Another tool used by multiple arts and sciences. Possibly worn by one of the above critters?

Book, Winged

"Argent, a leather book fesswise proper winged Or within a bordure dovetailed purpure."

A winged book, AoA, learning takes flight. Retain the dovetail divisions from the leather mallet as a bordure, and the gold wing of the swan.

Bee Skep

See "Sets" below.

Glove

The glove is both beautiful and utilitarian: The fine Noble's glove make of the finest calf or goat, with elaborate embellishment, possibly sweetly scented, or the heavy leather glove burnt with soot from the blacksmiths fire. Another type of glove: The gauntlet worn by the fighter. Everyone wears some kind of glove at some point or another.

Horn

Keeping with the Norse/Saxon history and making it subtle to avoid the appropriated symbology.

• Order of ‘The horn’. A silver (or gold) drinking horn on a field of purple, referencing the mead of poetry.

Unfortunately, Glean Abhean has horn-based awards since their mascot is a ram.

Needle

• "Per fess dovetailed or and purpure, in chief a needle purpure, in base a cross of Calatrava or."

Needle for art, dovetailed for science, referring to woodworking joinery. Adding the Cross because I've noticed that the A&S folks are the only ones of the "tracks" that don't have a cross of Calatrava incorporated into an award.

See also "Thorn" below.

Ring

Keeping with the Norse/Saxon history and making it subtle to avoid the appropriated symbology.

• Order of ‘The ring’ or ‘golden ring’. A gold ring on a purple field, referencing the golden arm ring Draupnir crafted by the dwarves for Oden during one of Loki’s crafting challenges.

Drachenwald has the Order of the Ring as their catch-all (?) GoA order.

Rulers and other measuring tools.

We all use them. Whether we're measuring millimeters, milligrams or milliseconds.

Quill

A tool for making drafts as an artist learns. Also for taking notes and teaching.

Sheaf of Wheat, aka a Garb in Heraldeses

A reference to artisans who 'feed' the kingdom's need for things that nourish the mind and create the ambiance that makes our game so cool.

Shears

See also in "Sets" below.

An important tool for many arts and sciences, and a reference to the device of Master Robert Sartor von Pays-Bas, Calontir’s first Laurel. Memorializing an artisan to inspire, while avoiding being split apart by opinions on the demobison story. Also fairly simple.

Tankard

A wooden tankard with foam proper.

Thorn

A golden thorn on a purple background. People sometimes collect thorns to make needles out of them. Needles that then get used to make various things (sewing, nailbinding, leather working?!). You are creating a TOOL to make other things. Even that tool itself is a pretty thing and requires making. Then you can also tie it to Roses have thorns and what do consorts become after they are done reigning is roses...

Deities & Religion

Order of Athena's Needle (AoA) and Order of Athena's Helm (GoA)

You could swap Athena for her Roman counterpart Minerva, of course. The idea being that Athena (and Minerva) was known for crafts like weaving, but also was a goddess of wisdom overall, including tactics and battle strategy.

There was objection both on that this is explicitly gendered female (which is to say, gendered at all) and being gender neutral is preferred. There were also concerns because reference to any dieties was considered unfair and not secular.

Also please remember our minorities. Certain things, like reference to some Saxon and Norse gods or runes, are coopted by white supremacists.

Also, even though the calatrava is the kingdom's symbol, it is nonetheless a cross. It is both a difficult design to cut out of metal, and it's also.....a cross. Let's consider that some non-Christian folks and/or folks who may have church or other religious trauma may not want crosses on *every single award.*

Saxon Culture

Pros/cons expressed about emphasizing the Anglo-Saxon traditions of the Kingdom

Certain things, like reference to some Saxon and Norse gods or runes, are coopted by white supremacists.

Cræft-weard (AoA) + Cræft-Māðm (GoA)

• Order of the Cræft-weard (from the Old English terms for crafts and the word that means both award and guardian) (AoA)
• Order of the Cræft-Māðm (from the OE word for treasure) (GoA)

The idea of Saxon language seemed amenable to many, perhaps because the kingdom is a Saxon one, but there was feedback that the word "weird" would generate some unwelcome feelings among the populace.

Note that Order names need to be fairly concrete - real-world objects/heraldic charges, personal names, place names. Abstract concepts are... difficult (although using names of deities is explicitly allowed).

===Golden Ring (AoA) and Golden Flame (GoA)

• Order of the Golden Ring (from the ancient custom of ring giving by thains and thegns) (AoA)
• Order of the Golden Flame (a reference to the mythical gift of fire, and that such accomplished artisans enlighten and beautify the Kingdom) (GoA)

Sets

Athena's Needle (AoA) + Athena's Helm (GoA)

You could swap Athena for her Roman counterpart Minerva, of course. The idea being that Athena (and Minerva) was known for crafts like weaving, but also was a goddess of wisdom overall, including tactics and battle strategy.

See discussion under "Deities & Religion" above.

Bee + Bee Skep

“Unto the Honourable Lady Gianna Viviani, Greetings.

Their Majesties have called for the proposal of new awards for the Award of Arms, and Grant of Arms, level dedicated to the arts and sciences. When considering the names and symbolism of the proposed awards, I believed it was important for them to be tied together, to celebrate the individual, to show progression, and to demonstrate the inclusiveness we have here in Calontir. With that in mind, and in consultation with Mistress Emeline de Moulineaux, Mistress Alessandra de Piro, Baron Konstantia Kaloethina, and others, I humbly propose the following…

Golden Calon Bee: (Award of Arms) Purpure, a bee volant within a hexagon voided Or. Bees are industrious and adaptable. They have specializations, and change specializations as needs change. The name and colour scheme are a tip of the hat to the Golden Calon Swan, and make it obviously Calontiri.

Silver Skep: (Grant of Arms) Sable, a skep within a bordure Argent. I wanted to tie the two orders together thematically. Continuing with our theme, a skep is the old English word for a wicker beehive. Our artisans and craftspeople are part of a community. The skep demonstrates their inclusion in our collective Calontir mindset, and is designed to show the progress of the individual contributing to the greater whole. The colour scheme is a tip of the hat to the Silver Hammer.

…The names, and blazons, have been conflict checked, and would likely pass if submitted. If you have any questions, or concerns, please let me know. Thank you.

-Galen”

Shears (AoA) + Bear (GoA)

A mixture of “something new” and “a little piece of history”.

AoA: A pair of gold shears/snips/scissors (whatever you call them) on a purple background within a gold embattled border. An important tool for many, and a reference to the device of Master Robert Sartor von Pays-Bas, Calontir’s first Laurel. Memorializing an artisan to inspire, while avoiding being split apart by opinions on the demobison story. Also fairly simple.

GoA: A white bear, on a purple background within a gold embattled border. A subtle but direct reference to Brummbar, who (from what I’ve read) gave out the first Silver Hammer and Calon Lily awards. Could also do a gold bear to keep the aesthetics of the awards the same.

Shears (AoA) and Striking Falcon (GoA)

• AoA: gold shears on a purple background
• GoA: purple striking falcon on a gold background

There was concern that the falcon might be confused with the populace badge (colors are reversed and there is a border)

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