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Mercer-Henderson Arms

Posted: 14 Nov 2018, 02:50
by Mark Henderson
Does anyone know the blazon for these arms? This photo was taken at Fordell Castle in Scotland. The arms appear to be Mercer-Henderson, but the painting seems off.

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Re: Mercer-Henderson Arms

Posted: 14 Nov 2018, 06:27
by Chris Green
As the arms are on a wall at Fordell Castle, they should indeed be those of Mercer-Henderson.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Mercer-Henderson

The tinctures are, as you say, "off". It looks as if someone did part of a restoration job but then gave up, leaving several charges without their correct tinctures. Perhaps someone with access to Burke's Landed Gentry can vouchsafe us the correct blazon.

Re: Mercer-Henderson Arms

Posted: 14 Nov 2018, 09:18
by Jeremy Fox
From the "Landed Gentry" 1879 -
"Arms -
Quarterly,
1st and 4th, Henderson, gu., three piles issuing from the sinister arg. on a chief of the last a crescent az. between two erm. spots;
2nd and 3rd, Mercer, or, on a fess between three crosses pattee in chief gu. and a mullet of six points, in base az. as many bezants, all within a bordure of the third.


Crests—
For Henderson : A cubit arm ppr. the hand holding an estoile radiated or, and surmounted by a crescent az.;
and for Mercer : The head and neck of a heron erased. holding in its beak an eel, seizing the neck of the former ppr,

Mottoes—Over the crest of Henderson : Sola virtus nobilitat; over that of Mercer : The grit poul."

No supporters were described.


In Burke's blazon, the tinctures of the field at least match the hatching in the monument.

Re: Mercer-Henderson Arms

Posted: 14 Nov 2018, 10:41
by Chris Green
So not just incomplete restoration but a total cock-up, to use the technical jargon.

Re: Mercer-Henderson Arms

Posted: 14 Nov 2018, 17:03
by Jeremy Fox
Amazing what a spray can or two will do!

Re: Mercer-Henderson Arms

Posted: 14 Nov 2018, 20:44
by Chris Green
Amazing what a spray can or two will do!


:mrgreen:

Re: Mercer-Henderson Arms

Posted: 14 Nov 2018, 23:58
by Mark Henderson
I thought something was off. I saw the hatching and wondered what the heck, and had originally made the following image, but held off because I was not certain. Thank you.

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