Blazon questions

[Scout]

In drafting out a COA I'm finding myself somewhat befuddled with the heraldic language of the blazon.

Here's what I've got so far:



Coat of Arms: Gules, a fess embattled or, between in chief three escutcheons, and in base a harp.

Crest: A dexter arm embowed vested azure, the hand in a buckskin gauntlet proper, grasping a cavalry saber argent, hilted or.

Motto: Riamh Nar Dhruid O Spairn Lann (I will likely need to adjust the scroll to have that fit)

Do I need to specify the color of the escutcheons and harp and the orientation (fesswise?) of the escutcheons? Do the helm and the mantling need to be described?

I would sincerely appreciate the opinions and advice of our heraldic scholars.

[Cygnus]

You do need to specify the colour of the escucheons and harp, but you can do so in conjunction with the fess:

"Coat of Arms: Gules, a fess embattled counter-embattled, between in chief three escutcheons and in base a harp Or."

And, assuming these are Scottish arms, the escroll generally appears above the crest rather than below the shield.

Since the fess is embattled on the top and bottom, I changed the blazon to reflect that.

Normally the helm and mantling don't need to be described because in Scotland the present practice is to use the helmet based on the bearer's title (if any) and the first-named color and metal from the arms for the torse and mantling. If you intend for the mantling to be Gules and Argent as you have them in the picture (and as was often the practice in the past), you would need to specify, otherwise it would be Gules and Or. Helms are often described as "...a helm befitting his rank..." or something similar, rather than going into great detail about style and decoration.

I like it. Are you planning to register them somewhere?

[Scout]

I knew there had to be a way to specify the color of the fess, escutcheons and harp without repeating "Or" three times. And, yes, I do want the mantling to be Gules and Argent. Where would I describe that?

Once I fine tune everything I'll likely register them but I'm only beginning to look into the options.

Many thanks for the help!

[Mike_Oettle]

A nice concept, Mike.
Not sure what software you are using (sometimes it can be pretty restrictive), but I would argue for a broader fess (it can be up to a third of the depth of the shield, and if it has charges on it without any above or below, slightly wider even) and the harp and escutcheons somewhat larger.
The helmet is a bit small in comparison with the shield – but on the other hand I have seen far too many helmets that dwarf the shield they have been placed on.
As Cygnus says, the scroll normally appears on top in Scottish arms, but your use of a harp and a motto in Gaelic almost suggests an Irish coat of arms. Follow whichever convention is applicable.
At any rate, for a first effort, this is a nice emblazonment.
You could register it in Pretoria for a modest fee.
Regards,
Mike

[creagdhubh]

A nice concept, Mike.
Not sure what software you are using (sometimes it can be pretty restrictive), but I would argue for a broader fess (it can be up to a third of the depth of the shield, and if it has charges on it without any above or below, slightly wider even) and the harp and escutcheons somewhat larger.
The helmet is a bit small in comparison with the shield – but on the other hand I have seen far too many helmets that dwarf the shield they have been placed on.
As Cygnus says, the scroll normally appears on top in Scottish arms, but your use of a harp and a motto in Gaelic almost suggests an Irish coat of arms. Follow whichever convention is applicable.
At any rate, for a first effort, this is a nice emblazonment.
You could register it in Pretoria for a modest fee.
Regards,
Mike

***

[Cygnus]

Following the format of your original post, you could simply include the following:

Wreath: Gules and Or
Mantling: Gules doubled Argent

[Chas]

I agree with everything Cygnus has said. My only thought is that artistically it could do with fewer embattlements - about a third less would be nice. More recognisable at a distance.

Regards

Chas

[Scout]

Here's a revision including the suggested changes:

Coat of Arms: Gules, a fess embattled counter-embattled, between in chief three escutcheons and in base a harp Or.

Wreath: Gules and Or.

Crest: A dexter arm embowed vested Azure, the hand in a buckskin gauntlet proper, grasping a cavalry saber Argent, hilted Or.

Mantling: Gules doubled Argent.

Motto: Riamh Nar Dhruid O Spairn Lann

I did try and do this in the style of Irish Arms. I'm only working with the “Paint” program on my PC which is pretty limiting so after I'm satisfied I plan on having an artist draw them up for me in a nicer version.

I am of course open to more advice and suggestions!

[saharris]

Wreath: Gules and Or.
Mantling: Gules doubled Argent.

I agree with what has been posted so far (that modern arms use the liveries, that is the first color doubled of the first metal; and that during some periods in history Gules doubled Argent was used by default regardless of the arms' liveries). What I question is having the torse and the mantling not match each other. Is not one just an extension of the other?

Unless I am mistaken, I believe "in chief" and "in base" can also be dropped from the blazon. Having designated the fess, an heraldic artist would then read it "from top to bottom" anyway (more honorable position, chief...to lesser position, base).

I had much the same thought: "Gules a fess embattled-counterembattled between three escutcheons and a harp Or".
By the way, some consider one metal-one color arms such as these to be an ideal. Very nice design!

Motto: Riamh Nar Dhruid O Spairn Lann

How does this translate?

[Cygnus]

I had much the same thought: "Gules a fess embattled-counterembattled between three escutcheons and a harp Or".
By the way, some consider one metal-one color arms such as these to be an ideal. Very nice design!

If it were two escucheons and a harp, I could see that, but as some arms have two charges in chief and two in base, it could be drawn with two escucheons in chief with another escucheon and a harp in base (as the fess would still be between them all, it would technically be correct).