Quote:
Originally Posted by muphigammaLOVE
What makes a coat of arms more "genuine" than another? Just because it's been around for centuries and you decided that you liked a certain family's design... Coats of arms were originally meant to tell something about who you were, so I think designing your own (looking into symbolism of traditional heraldry, or even just thinking about designs that represent your ideals) would be more fun and unique  |
Actually, there is
a lot more to it than that. "Geniune" (read traditional) coats-of-arms can be blazoned. Blazoning is a specific language regarding the elements and the design of a coat-of-arms. The following is the blazon for Alpha Sigma Phi:
Gules, a pall or, between, in chief two retorts crossed argent, in dexter base a quill sable surmounting a key in saltire, of the third, in sinister base a hammer fesswise of the fourth debruising a compass, points downward, of the third; over all the escutcheon of pretense, azure, charged with a castle or, masoned sable, with a bordure argent.
Crest, over a duke's helmet and a torse of the colors, a dexter cubit arm, proper, grasping a thunderbolt, winged or
Mantling: Gules doubled, or
Supporters: Two lions, rampant, proper
Motto: Sigma Phi Delta, in upper and lower case Greek letters
Because many of the NPC and NIC organizations were founded more than 75 years ago...there was a different mindset in terms of "authenticity". Therefore, the individuals that would create coat-of-arms were very particular to research the official rules of heraldry. For example,
Emily Helen Butterfield designed the crests/coat-of-arms for many organizations and was quite learned in heraldry.
You do have a point in that the coat-of-arms is suppossed to mean something and be unique. That's where the innovation of newer organizations come in and they have taken the crest/coat-of-arms thing to a different level. However, from a standpoint of tradition, the idea of a coat-of-arms is unique to England and a choice few other European families. Currently, there are very few groups that grant or register coats-of-arms. All of those groups will not register any design that cannot be blazoned. The notion of granting/registering a coat-of-arms has advantages -- but not enough for most American groups to be concerned about it (America does not "grant" coats-of-arms....only registers them). However, it could be an issue internationally (it's very involved as to why....but it could prevent you from using your insignia in some countries; you would have to consult an intellectual property lawyer for details why).
It's purely a preference; just like some people like traditional furniture and others like modern furniture. But you cannot ignore the fact that every organization that is centered around the recognition of coats-of-arms (like the College of Arms, the Canadian Heraldic Authority, and the American College of Heraldry) have strict rules regarding what is and what is not a coat-of-arms.
Hybrid Mode
