Scottish heraldic flavor

[Zardoz]

I'm intrigued by this Bureau of Heraldry in South Africa, As I had not heard of it, I did a bit of research.

The way I understand it, under South African law everyone has the right to bear a coat of arms, as long as she or he does not infringe on the rights of others, and the arms conform to heraldic principles. Their National Herald approves arms under the authority given by the South African Heraldry Act.

So basically, anyone who comes up with a new coat of arms can get it registered there.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

real grants of arms can only be made by a officer of the Crown;

Actually substantial (ie: real) grants are made by the Irish government, the government of the Republic of South Africa, and the government of the Russian Federation. One of the problems with heraldry in the United States is that 99% of those commenting have only read a very few books about heraldry in England or Scotland, and assume that they have discovered the universal truth.

The reality is that there are numerous heraldic traditions which often bear little or no resemblance to the oft quoted practices of the College of Arms and which are regarded as universally valid by heralds.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'm intrigued by this Bureau of Heraldry in South Africa, As I had not heard of it, I did a bit of research.

The way I understand it, under South African law everyone has the right to bear a coat of arms, as long as she or he does not infringe on the rights of others, and the arms conform to heraldic principles. Their National Herald approves arms under the authority given by the South African Heraldry Act.

So basically, anyone who comes up with a new coat of arms can get it registered there.

In a nutshell-- yes. Provided of course that it conforms to the rules of heraldry, and does not infringe the heraldic rights of another person or corporation.

[Lachlan09]

Happy New Year !

Ahh ! That's why !

I can understand these reasons, especially status symbols. A bit like Aussies with made up "hyphenated-surnames".

My kids, like many, aren't interested a jot in me leaving them a coats of arms. But they would be very interested if I bought them a Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder out of our local showroom for their 18th's ! Dream on ! Their status would come from (apart from being excellent and beautiful cars), they are not Ford Mustangs or other American sports cars which are here in droves and my kids consider vulgar.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Happy New Year !

Ahh ! That's why !

I can understand these reasons, especially status symbols. A bit like Aussies with made up "hyphenated-surnames".

My kids, like many, aren't interested a jot in me leaving them a coats of arms. But they would be very interested if I bought them a Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder out of our local showroom for their 18th's ! Dream on ! Their status would come from (apart from being excellent and beautiful cars), they are not Ford Mustangs or other American sports cars which are here in droves and my kids consider vulgar.

It is the owner/driver that renders a car vulgar. Maybach's are extremely vulgar, and Roll-Royce Phantoms are just slightly less vulgar, although the new Roll-Royce Ghost is, surprisingly, not vulgar-- yet. Hopefully the sorts of people who make those cars vulgar won't buy them.

Far better if, on each of the young gentleman's eighteenth birthday, you were to gift him with a new Morgan sports car, ideally crested on each door with his arms. Failing that, the car could be fitted with tartan seat covers to protect the leather from the ferocious effects of the middle-Eastern sun.

[Lachlan09]

Maybach - their engines also powered the vulgar, but muscly PzKfw VI, Tiger tank of WW2 - a bit slow though, trying to shift those 57 tons !

For, even if I had millions in the bank, I would never get Rolls Royce, Bentley etc etc as though they're well made etc, I don't like them at all. I especially don’t like Jaguars as I associate them with sheepskin coats and English gangland-bosses.

To be honest, I’m not really a car person, though, like my son and daughter, I do appreciate Ferrari and Lamborghini cars, as seen in our local showroom and owned by some here. That’s most likely utter foolish snobbery on my part that I raise my nose at Corvettes, Mustangs and Cobras I see here, but I could never afford one and I am probably jealous of the young Omani tearaways who have their daddies buy for them.

A Lexus, Mercedes, Maserati or Porsche would do me.