To mark International Women's Day today (8 March), some armorial bearings in which women appear as charges or as supporters.
The arms and crest of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London feature "a figure of the Virgin couped at the shoulders". The arms, which evolved from a seal adopted in 1425, were confirmed by the College of Arms in 1911, and the crest was granted at the same time.
The City of New York's arms, assumed in 1778, are supported by female figures representing Liberty (dexter) and Justice (sinister). This version of Liberty is quite different from the one depicted in the statue erected in the city's harbour 108 years later.
While classical female figures, representing Liberty, Justice, Hope etc are popular in heraldry, more modern women are also represented. The late Baroness Vickers, whose arms were probably granted c1975, chose "a female Red Cross worker in uniform" for her sinister supporter. She had been a Red Cross social worker herself, at the end of World War II.
If you would like to introduce any other heraldic ladies to the forum, please do so. All are welcome.
International Women's Day 2018
- Arthur Radburn
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International Women's Day 2018
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Arthur Radburn
Arthur Radburn
- Chris Green
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Re: International Women's Day 2018
Given that there is no "International Men's Day" (and that would never do), herewith a mermaid, but she is accompanied by a merman. Whether he is there as a patriarchal figure, her "toy-boy" or has some other purpose, is a matter for conjecture.
Chris Green
IAAH President
Bertilak de Hautdesert
IAAH President
Bertilak de Hautdesert
- Chris Green
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Re: International Women's Day 2018
One of these ladies was clearly designed with one purpose in mind. I don't suppose she would feature in any modern blazon. The other is Britannia with a cap of liberty (why a white one they are usually red - or does it have a hidden agenda?).
The dexter figure supposedly represents Artemis of Ephesus
The spherical objects are not however Artemis' breasts but gourds or bulls' testicles representing fertility.
Arms: per fess azure and vert, a young child lying naked and exposed, extending its right hand proper, in chief a crescent argent between two mullets of six points or.
Crest: a lamb argent, holding in its mouth a sprig of thyme proper.
Supporters: dexter, a terminal figure of a woman full of nipples proper with a mantle vert, the terminus argent, being the Emblem of Nature; sinister, the Emblem of Liberty, represented by Britannia holding in her right hand upon a staff proper a cap argent, and habited in a vest azure, girt with a belt or, the under garment gules.
The dexter figure supposedly represents Artemis of Ephesus
The spherical objects are not however Artemis' breasts but gourds or bulls' testicles representing fertility.
Chris Green
IAAH President
Bertilak de Hautdesert
IAAH President
Bertilak de Hautdesert
- JMcMillan
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Re: International Women's Day 2018
[quote="Arthur Radburn"]T
The City of New York's arms, assumed in 1778, are supported by female figures representing Liberty (dexter) and Justice (sinister). This version of Liberty is quite different from the one depicted in the statue erected in the city's harbour 108 years later.
State of New York, actually. Not many mountains for the sun to rise (or set) behind inside the limits of NYC. The city's arms are four windmill blades conjoined in saltire between two beavers and two flour barrels.
And to quibble over terminology, it seems misleading to describe arms adopted by statutory act of a sovereign as "assumed."
The City of New York's arms, assumed in 1778, are supported by female figures representing Liberty (dexter) and Justice (sinister). This version of Liberty is quite different from the one depicted in the statue erected in the city's harbour 108 years later.
State of New York, actually. Not many mountains for the sun to rise (or set) behind inside the limits of NYC. The city's arms are four windmill blades conjoined in saltire between two beavers and two flour barrels.
And to quibble over terminology, it seems misleading to describe arms adopted by statutory act of a sovereign as "assumed."
Joseph McMillan
Alexandra, Virginia, USA
Alexandra, Virginia, USA
- JMcMillan
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Re: International Women's Day 2018
JMcMillan wrote:Arthur Radburn wrote:T
The City of New York's arms, assumed in 1778, are supported by female figures representing Liberty (dexter) and Justice (sinister). This version of Liberty is quite different from the one depicted in the statue erected in the city's harbour 108 years later.
State of New York, actually. Not many mountains for the sun to rise (or set) behind inside the limits of NYC. The city's arms are four windmill blades conjoined in saltire between two beavers and two flour barrels.
And to quibble over terminology, it seems misleading to describe arms adopted by statutory act of a sovereign as "assumed."
Joseph McMillan
Alexandra, Virginia, USA
Alexandra, Virginia, USA
- JMcMillan
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- Location: United States
Re: International Women's Day 2018
The State of New Jersey and the City of Philadelphia also have arms with two divine female supporters.
New Jersey, adopted 1776, Liberty and Ceres:
Philadelphia, adopted ca 1789, Peace and Plenty (the emblazonment by the famous portraitist Thomas Sully)
New Jersey, adopted 1776, Liberty and Ceres:
Philadelphia, adopted ca 1789, Peace and Plenty (the emblazonment by the famous portraitist Thomas Sully)
Joseph McMillan
Alexandra, Virginia, USA
Alexandra, Virginia, USA
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Re: International Women's Day 2018
Chris Green wrote:One of these ladies was clearly designed with one purpose in mind. I don't suppose she would feature in any modern blazon. The other is Britannia with a cap of liberty (why a white one they are usually red - or does it have a hidden agenda?).Arms: per fess azure and vert, a young child lying naked and exposed, extending its right hand proper, in chief a crescent argent between two mullets of six points or.
Crest: a lamb argent, holding in its mouth a sprig of thyme proper.
Supporters: dexter, a terminal figure of a woman full of nipples proper with a mantle vert, the terminus argent, being the Emblem of Nature; sinister, the Emblem of Liberty, represented by Britannia holding in her right hand upon a staff proper a cap argent, and habited in a vest azure, girt with a belt or, the under garment gules.
The dexter figure supposedly represents Artemis of Ephesus
Whose arms are these anyway?
- Chris Green
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Re: International Women's Day 2018
Whose arms are these anyway?
The Foundling Hospital of London.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundling_Hospital
Chris Green
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Bertilak de Hautdesert
IAAH President
Bertilak de Hautdesert
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