Unconventional supporters

[Arthur Radburn]

Supporters are usually depicted upright, standing on a compartment or some other base, or the motto scroll. But not always ...

In the 'arms' of the Woodstock municipality (now part of the City of Cape Town), dating from the 1890s, the sinister supporter is in an interesting attitude. Any suggestions as to how he might be blazoned?



The arms of the Canadian Museum of Civilisation, granted in 1989, are :



The supporters are blazoned as Dexter a representation of the Inuit underwater Spirit Sedna her finger joints producing fish styled by Manasie Akpaliapik, sinister a representation of the Algonquian Michipijeu by the name Asticou styled by Norval Morrisseau, both spirits diving into a whirlpool all Proper

The arms of Sir Brian Cubbon, granted c2008, together with Garter Gwynn-Jones' explanation of them, from the Heraldry Gazette (December 2008) :





Does anyone have any other examples of supporters which are in unconventional attitudes?

[Michael F. McCartney]

The arms of Cubbin -- and especially the blazon! -- are fascinating!! My initial impression of the image was " no way" -- but reading the blazon (twice) it suddenly made sense.

Not perhaps everyone's cup of tea, but I admire Garter's creativity in both the design and the blazon.

[Arthur Radburn]

Yes, the Cubbon arms are certainly innovative! I understand that Garter Gwynn-Jones was a maths teacher before he became a herald -- he certainly came up with lots of interesting geometrical designs, and some of the blazons do indeed need to be read more than once to understand how the design is composed.

[Chris Green]

Sir Brian Cubbon was incredibly lucky to live long enough to be granted arms. On 21 July 1976 he was in the car that was blown up by the IRA killing the British Ambassador to Ireland, Christopher Ewart-Biggs, and Cubbon's Private Secretary.

Sadly the Cubbon supporters died with him, as he was a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and GCB supporters are not hereditary.

[JMcMillan]

Off the supporter topic a little, but it's a little perverse that the College chose not to display Sir Brian's helm in the traditional affronty position. I'm all for the new-ish flexibility to orient the helm to match the orientation of the crest, but in this case an oast house would look more natural on an affronty helm than one in profile.

[Chas Charles-Dunne]

Surely it should read:

Argent a pall cotized and gyronny of six Azure and Gules the Azure formy.

[Chris Green]

Surely it should read: Argent a pall cotized and gyronny of six Azure and Gules the Azure formy?

I think that's 1 - 0 to IAAH over the College. We can but hope that the blazon in the LPs was accurate!

[Martin Goldstraw]

We can't jump to the conclusion that the blazon in the letters patent is also inaccurate just because Garter made an omission when writing about the rational behind the design of the arms. But, since we don't have free and easy access to the records of the College of Arms, we'll probably never know for certain. Just one of the many frustrations we are left with when offered tempting little tasters from that august institution.