Not only has she clearly picked up a lot on the subject, but she had a go at drawing her own heraldic unicorn and featured a picture of her with her favourite Officer of Arms (obviously I'm not my daughter's favourite Officer of Arms when there is a Unicorn Pursuivant!)
🦄 When asked to make a Scottish information poster at school earlier this year my Unicorn mad daughter made one all about Scotland's national animal, which I thought I'd share for National Unicorn Day.
My very talented mother-in-law has made a custom bag for carrying my uniform baton to and from duty. Fittingly made from Border Tartan, my wife then also added the March Pursuivant badge as a finishing touch. A wonderfully symbolic accessory that will be handed down to future holders of the office.
An elvish helm is used, around which a cloak is draped to serve as the mantling. A Elvish style pennon displays the motto, written in Sindaril, with the crest adapted as a finial. This is all displayed on a hand drawn map as a reminder that "not all who wander are lost".
As such the shield is in the form of a lozenge in accordance with the design of Silmarils, whilst the voided escutcheon within is styled to be reminiscent of an Elvish war shield. I have opted for an ermine spot and spacing to suit the Elvish aesthetic.
To celebrate I am delighted to share my Middle Earth inspired emblazonment of the real arms of Mícheál Seosamh Ó Coigligh with whom I enjoyed working (and nerding out) to meet the real world blazon combined with the principles Tolkien developed for the Silmaril heraldry of the Elves.
🛡️ A day may come of shattered shields... "But it is not this day!" No, this is #TolkienReadingDay !
🇳🇿 Not an especially heraldic flower, but with their vexillological inspired name 'Blue Ensign', these Pulmonaria have certainly flagged the arrival of spring for this March!
🚭 For No Smoking Day I thought I'd share this heraldic version of the anti-smoking symbol that I once whipped up as a tongue in cheek experiment; shown here pressed into service at a Heraldry Society of Scotland event. Thanks to @bob.omg.lol for the photograph.
Compared to my previous post last International Heraldry Day this showcases just a redrawn lion rampant; still drawing inspiration from legendary Komainu for the lion rampant, surrounded by monshō style irises for the flory tressure and set upon a background of Nihon tartan
As it is the Birthday of the Emperor of Japan, I thought today would be a good opportunity to showcase the royal Scottish arms as emblazoned in a Japanese monshō influenced style
Warmest wishes to the Emperor and the Japanese nation on this day 🎌
My banner of arms is but only as long as it's rotated 180° rather than being flipped vertically!
Not only was living in @aarhuskommune.bsky.social a fun experience, but I was greatly inspired by the positive culture around flags & symbols in Denmark - I even attempted my first heraldic designs whilst there - which inspires my work to this day.
Here it is shown being used years later at my wedding reception where it identified the table for all the friends I made from my time there.
My emblazonment of the county of Aarhus' original banner of arms, posted today in honour of the 20th anniversary of arriving there to start my Erasmus placement at @aarhusuniint.bsky.social
Kinross-shire has launched a consultation about potentially running a flag design competition.
The survey is looking for people - all people but especially those from the county and surrounding areas - to input through the link below
One of those staff members @heraldicartist.bsky.social is also on here
The Lyon Court itself does have an office staff that handle legal and administrative issues, headed up by Lyon himself, who do get salaries
Happy to report that Marchmont Herald is also here at @adamrbruce.bsky.social
Officers of Arms here in Scotland frequently have day jobs. Often in law or business, and one is currently in the NHS. Ordinaries get a peppercorn payment, whilst Extraordinaries like me do not get any payment.
I loved him bringing his fun, loose and free spirited - almost Quentin Blake inspired - style (as exemplified in his artists mark) to my arms. A wonderful example of how varied heraldic art should be. Perhaps I should share more versions of my arms by other artists.
Whilst giving is always better than receiving, as per my last post, it is nonetheless very nice to get a heraldic gift. This Christmas I was touched to get these hand painted emblazonments from @bob.omg.lol
It's always better to give than receive; heraldic gifts too. This year I used my daughter's love of Arthuriana as the excuse! A Guinevere-esque portrait by Luke Anderson and her first heraldry book - a King Arthur Armorial - which I'll have to see if I can borrow from her myself!
This Wall of Honour - and the similar example I witnessed at Tundegarth Kirk earlier this year - shows the story of the ties across Scotland, Britain and the World that came from the Disaster. A moving example of the power symbols can have when used together.
Given our work with symbols it was a privilege to be invited to yesterday's event on the anniversary of the Lockerbie Bombing and witness the laying of emblems by those organisations that responded to the disaster.
A festive and moving vexillological display in this Christmas wreath - which I was delighted to see when visiting the Lockerbie Memorial Church Museum recently - featuring the national flags of those nations who lost people in the bombing of PAA103
It's always an honour to attend this particularly vexillological ceremonial event, and it was a joy to be joined by our new officer of arms - Kintyre - for her first duty
Yesterday's St Andrews Day saw the sun really shine for what was also the 60th anniversary of the monument to the Saltire in its legendary birthplace of Athelstaneford. Hopefully a good omen for the Scottish Flag Trust's appeal to support a replacement.
This may be what inspired the Doctor (and other similar Time Lords) to explore the universe in person and gave them access to an antiquated TARDIS; presumably an ideal vehicle for such original Time Lord heralds that had become a symbol of office
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In the real world early heralds were envoys and often tasked with gathering news and information. Perhaps heralds also did this in early Time Lord society only for the non-interference policy to see them transition to a long distance observation and ceremonial role
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Being a Herald would give the Doctor the historical and ceremonial knowledge he displays of both Gallifrey (as evident in the Deadly Assassin) and the wider universe. As the Time Lords are such a technocratic society, he likely needed a Scientific grounding as well
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