The International Association of Amateur Heralds

My point in transferring this thread to "German Heraldry" was that the Emperor Charles V was most decidedly not French (where the thread originated). There being no HRE area, I was left with a choice between Germany and Spain. But Charles wasn't the fifth of Spain, nor its Emperor, so German it had to be, since the only other alternative was "Benelux Heraldry", as he was born in Ghent/Gent/Gand, but I reckoned on more raised eyebrows with that solution that the German one. Simple isn't it!

Why not "Heraldic Art"? Then no one has to worry about classifications.

Chris Green wrote:My point in transferring this thread to "German Heraldry" was that the Emperor Charles V was most decidedly not French (where the thread originated). There being no HRE area, I was left with a choice between Germany and Spain. But Charles wasn't the fifth of Spain, nor its Emperor, so German it had to be, since the only other alternative was "Benelux Heraldry", as he was born in Ghent/Gent/Gand, but I reckoned on more raised eyebrows with that solution that the German one. Simple isn't it!

Charles may not have been the fifth Spanish king of that name, but is nevertheless invariably referred to in Spain as "Carlos Quinto."

JMcMillan wrote:Charles may not have been the fifth Spanish king of that name, but is nevertheless invariably referred to in Spain as "Carlos Quinto."

I think the idea is that he is primarily known by his Imperial title, even in Spain.

Getting back to the topic. Here is another example, but I wonder why someone would want a chicken, rather than a bird of prey.

‘This helmet is remarkable for the three-dimensional figure of a rooster’s head in the center of the visor, which is an outstanding example of sculpture in steel and is unprecedented even among mask visors.’ - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Chas Charles-Dunne wrote:Getting back to the topic. Here is another example, but I wonder why someone would want a chicken, rather than a bird of prey.

A gamecock, no doubt.



Nasty, nasty critters. Scarier than your run of the mill eagle or hawk.

There are several styles of these parade helms here is a collection of some of them http://korokcsodai.blogspot.de/2012/06/grotesque-helmet-and-other-parade.html

Looking at many of them, it seems they follow standard shapes, with the designs adopted to the shape of the helm, which contributes to the deformity of the animals depicted. I recently have come to appreciate grotesque art such as this, mainly because of the way it is totally different from modern ascetics. I don't think it needs explaining why some of these helms are depicted in heraldry.

I've always thought that these types were rather cool.

Chas Charles-Dunne wrote:Getting back to the topic. Here is another example, but I wonder why someone would want a chicken, rather than a bird of prey.

Sir Robin, perhaps?