Clan MacMillan Heraldry Display

[Dr Mac]

Harold,
Well done, cousin! Thanks for all the hours put into this labor of love.
Would think a large representation of this would look amazing at Finlaystone Castle, at the Clan Centre for MacMillan International.

[Harold Cannon]

We do plan on getting a couple of copies there.

[artificer]

After seeing a display that Joseph MacMillan did and a wonderful emblazonment the Romilly Squire did of our chief's arms I wanted to have a display for our clan tent of the armigers and arms connected to our clan. These images did not exist in a vector format so I had to create each coat of arms and then, with the help of my heraldic mentor, Scott MacMillan (MacMillan of Rathdown) I combined them all in a style similar to the front plate from McIan's book. I hope you all like it as it has been a long time in the making.

I plan to have prints made as well as a weather resistant version for use at clan tents. Also I am working on a key of the arms so if someone wants to know which arms belong to who they can find out.


PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DISPLAY OF ARMS MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE CREATOR!

Gorgeous work, Harold, and a fantastic tribute to the clan and it's armigers.
It really deserves to be printing quite large on a very nice parchment or vellum.

BTW: What vector program are you using? Illustrator, or something like iDraw/Inkscape?

ith:

[Harold Cannon]

Thanks. I use Inkscape.

[creagdhubh]

Harold, you really did an awesome job. Your work shows the beauty and utility of heraldry, useful even in the modern day, as it links together thirty-three distinct families, cousins and kinsmen all, spectacularly united in a vibrant and colourful celebration of their common heritage.

For those who may not be steeped in Scottish customs, each clan has a plant badge which quite often alludes to the ancient lands from which the clan emerged. The plant badge of Clan MacMillan is holly, and it quite rightly forms the background upon which Harold has displayed the heraldry of his clan.

***

Well done, Harold!

[EagleJCS]

That is impressive. It makes some of the familial connections clear, especially to those who know how to 'read' the arms. Some connections would probably still need some explanation (some of the arms on the lower part are quite different from the chief's).

If I may suggest, include a legend describing whose arms are whose at the bottom of the larger/poster rendering. If this is printed as a leaflet, include that information on the back.

[SlackerDrummer]

Some connections would probably still need some explanation (some of the arms on the lower part are quite different from the chief's).

Only those in the clan with the surname of MacMillan (or its variants) would use the stem arms (those of the chief) as the foundation for their arms. Clan members with different surnames would be starting from scratch or using stem arms of their respective surnames for a starting point.

[Harold Cannon]

Here is the Key!

[creagdhubh]

Awesome, Harold! We need one (an updated version, actually) of these for the Clan Macpherson Association and its armigers!

[SlackerDrummer]

Awesome, Harold! We need one (an updated version, actually) of these for the Clan Macpherson Association and its armigers!

Yes, but you really need Gordon MacPherson to do it. You know, just to keep it in the family.