Fig. 103.—Seal of Sandwich (Mayor’s Seal).
Among the separate parts of animals used alone or in repetition a lion’s head is a frequent charge, and it follows the general rule of being represented in profile unless otherwise described. The lion’s leg, called a jamb, is also separately used as a charge, the tail being likewise thus employed. It must be remarked, that whenever a separate part of an animal is used as a charge the method of its severance must be carefully distinguished, whether couped, cleanly cut off, or erased, roughly torn away. In the latter case the erasure generally consists of three points or tufts, though not necessarily of that exact number so long as the erasure is sufficiently marked. It may, however, be noted here that a demi-lion as a crest is considered to be couped unless it is otherwise described, the junction with the helm usually disappearing within the torse that encircles it at that point.
Animals that can neither be described as actual nor purely imaginary are the so-called “heraldic” tiger and “heraldic” antelope, which have little apparent relation to their natural namesakes, but were perhaps evolved in the effort of an early artist to realize the wonderful description of some marvellous traveller. They have a family likeness, however, in their armed snouts and in their leonine tails, the latter being an appendage with which the mediaeval artist was fond of finishing off his creatures in default of more accurate information.
The poses of the lion are followed in a general way by other animals, both natural and “heraldic”; but in many instances the attitudes are called by different names for different creatures, a practice that was usual in mediaeval times, and also has its present examples, such as that two partridges are a brace and two hounds a couple, which need hardly be further specified. The Stag, emblematic of speed and sport rather than of combative virtues, has a special set of terms, which were naturally borrowed in part from those used in hunting. Thus he is “at gaze” when standing with his head affrontée, but when he stands with his head in profile he is statant like any other beast; springing when in the salient position, trippant when he is walking, at speed when running, and when couched he is lodged, and so he must be described in the blazon. His antlers, which are called attires, must, if they are of a different colour, be carefully mentioned and also his hoofs in a similar case, e.g. Azure a stag trippant Arg. attired and unguled (i.e. hoofed) Or.
A distinction is made between the stag and other horned animals in that the latter are said to be armed with their horns, as in the crest of the Duke of Bedford, a goat statant Arg. armed Or.
Horses and other maned animals, real and imaginary, are crined of their manes. Thus, the supporters of the Goldsmiths Company (Fig. 104) are unicorns or, armed, crined and hoofed arg. (in some examples purpure). This treatment of the Goldsmiths’ arms was designed, like those of the Grocers Company at p. 64, to harmonize with early eighteenth century decorations. The unicorn has a horse’s head and body with the legs and cloven hoofs of a stag. Its twisted horn issues from the middle of its forehead, and its tail is that of a lion, the foregoing examples which have horses’ tails being extremely rare exceptions to the general rule.
Fig. 104.—The Arms of the Goldsmiths Company of London. Cartoon for mural decoration. Geo. W. Eve.
Griffin from the Triumphal Arch of the Emperor Maximilian I. Dürer.