Clan Badges

[Joe Gondek]

I was in the Salt Lake City Scottish Shop looking for a smaller Muir clan badge

The clam Muir Bagde should look like this



This is the only one I could find for sale


You'll notice that the head is facing full front instead of being in profile

While looking I found that a MC Nab badge is almost identical to the Clan Muir being sold


I was wondering if this common?

Would anyone Know where I can find a correct Clan badge?

I now that someone is making a correct version because I have a shot glass with one glued on it.

[macwilkin]

Please post all heraldry-related threads in the heraldry & tartans section.

Thanks!

Todd

[Dirk Skene]

I have seen slight differences in clan badges. See if you can google Clan Muir & find out what they call "official." If the chief line is intact then he will be the ultimate authority.

[Joe Gondek]

This is the Clam crest

and gray one above is the offical clan badge

[Dirk Skene]

This is the Clam crest ....

I'd only go with profile then. Looks like that is what is approved by the cheif

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Hmmm.... The web site of the Standing Council of Scottish Cheifs shows the head facing forward.
http://www.clanchiefs.org/?init=clanfinder&id=muir

According to the Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, by George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire, the crest for Muir is:
A savage head couped Proper.

No indication is given as to the direction the head faces. I believe in this case, it is proper for the head to face in the same direction as the helmet, when shown in full acheivement, as in this illustration:


And to show the head facing forward when there is no helm displayed, as in this illustration:


So, unless I am mistaken, they are both correct.

To give an example of when the direction is indicated, the following is the blazon for the MacNab crest:
The head of a savage affronte Proper.

"Affronte" here means "facing forward," so the direction is prescribed in the case of MacNab. In the case of Muir, it is not.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hmmm.... The web site of the Standing Council of Scottish Cheifs shows the head facing forward.
http://www.clanchiefs.org/?init=clanfinder&id=muir

According to the Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, by George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire, the crest for Muir is:
A savage head couped Proper.

No indication is given as to the direction the head faces. I believe in this case, it is proper for the head to face in the same direction as the helmet, when shown in full acheivement, as in this illustration:


And to show the head facing forward when there is no helm displayed, as in this illustration:


So, unless I am mistaken, they are both correct.

To give an example of when the direction is indicated, the following is the blazon for the MacNab crest:
The head of a savage affronte Proper.

"Affronte" here means "facing forward," so the direction is prescribed in the case of MacNab. In the case of Muir, it is not.

Sorry Matt, but you are just a tad off the mark.

In heraldry charges face to the right (dexter) unless blazoned otherwise. This "right facing" is called the default position and is used for everything from lions rampant to ships under sail, including the heads of humans and beasts. That said, the Muir clan badge on offer from Gaelic Themes is wrong, full stop.

What I'd suggest here is that Joe send Scott Chalmers at Gaelic Themes the illustration taken from Way & Squire's book, point out the error, and ask for the correct badge.

[The Wizard of BC]

The Clan Crest Cap Badge you have in your picture is from Gaelic Themes. They are authorized by the Standing Council of Scottish Chief to produce the authentic crests.

Here is a link to the authorized Muir Clan Crest.

http://www.clanchiefs.org/?init=clanfinder&id=muir

[macwilkin]

This is the Clam crest

and gray one above is the offical clan badge

This is actually the arms of the Chief; the crest is at the top.

T.

[northernsky]

Man...do you know everything????