My Arms
I know that a person's heraldic badge need not have any relation to their Arms, but I'm going to start off with an illustration of my Arms.
A few notes on my device. My actual registered arms use the natural bottle nosed dolphin as a charge. I had originally wanted a heraldic dolphin however at the time the herald who did the work on the submission so many years ago submitted it as a bottle nosed dolphin. At the time that was the more common way to do things going for the more naturalistic species thing. Or at least that is what the herald who did it thought. Consequently I ended up with a bottle nosed dolphin though I have always emblazoned my arms with a heraldic dolphin.
As illustrated I am using a heraldic dolphin rather than a bottle-nosed dolphin. The heraldic dolphin is the more typical one used in heraldic design and has the rayed fins and tail as shown. I plan on eventually changing my blazon to read "per bend sinister, per bend sable and vert, and azure, a dolphin embowed argent". For the meantime I'll just use artistic licence and draw my dolphin in the heraldic style. This is, I must admit a breach of heraldry in that the two are definitely different charges however having the bottle nosed dolphin registered on my unique and now grandfathered field means that using the heraldic dolphin will not infringe on anyone else's device.
I plan on actually registering the change when I can afford to register it. Likely around the time I also register my badges.
|
 
Per bend sinister, per bend sable and vert, and azure, a bottle-nosed
dolphin embowed argent
|
|
My Proposed Badge
The Rose and Dolphin fieldless badge
I think I like this one best out of what I have been looking at. It also seems
to pass for construction and conflict with other heraldic devices in the
current SCA Armorial.
The badge design incorporates the heraldic dolphin in white or silver and
the heraldic rose in its natural proper coloration of red petals with green
barbs and yellow seeds.
The badge's dolphin will match the dolphin I want to have on my arms. At
present it is registered as a bottle-nosed dolphin, but I originally wished
and eventually plan to have the blazon read is a dolphin, the heraldic version
with the rayed fins and tail.
Though not necessary, the elements of the badge have special meaning to
me. The dolphin I see as being intelligent, caring, and joyous and it freely
swims the ocean's waters where it will. It might not be the strongest in the
sea, and it's weaponry the sharpest and hardest tearing, but the dolphin holds
its own, especially when travelling in its family pod. Silver is a metal
considered by many to be purest of metals spiritually. While not as valuable
per ounce as gold has its own strength and purpose and indeed is considered
valuable and treasured. The Rose, and in particular the red one is symbolic
of love, loyalty, and passion.
Together what they say are important things to me. More personally the badge
could be read, Wade, on a dolphin argent arose. Symbolic of rising to overcome
difficulty in life using humour, wisdom, strength and love.
Note that (fieldless) is just a term to let herald folk know that the badge
actually has no field and that it hasn't just accidentally been left out.
Also note that the default colour for the heraldic rose is gules barbed vert
seeded Or, (red with green barbs and golden seeds) and so is implied by simply
saying, a rose.
If for some reason I can't register this badge, I would first change it
by simply taking the dolphin from its traditional default Naiant posture
(horizontal) and have it hauriant instead. (vertical)
So far the badge seems clear of conflict as well as with proper blazon.
|
(fieldless) On a dolphin argent a rose proper
|
|
The Field Badge
The field of my arms is pretty unique in and of itself and I believe would
be clear of conflict. In fact it would no longer be registerable by anyone
other than me. However because I have it registered I can have it by the
"Grandfather Clause". I think that it would make a neat banner or other sort
of ensign to fly and people would associate it with me.
|
Per bend sinister, per bend sable and vert, and azure
|
|
Some Options
Components
|
|
|
|
Horizontal Dolphin Variants
|
Here are some variants using
the dolphin in a horizontal orientation.
|
|
|
|
I want to keep the dolphin in my badge, though
perhaps not in the same horizontal alignment. I think that I'll stick with
the heraldic dolphin, though I'm not sure. There are a few attractions to
using a more natural dolphin like a bottle-nose dolphin. The natural dolphin
defaults to grey when in the default or "proper" tincture. The heraldic dolphin
defaults to green with red fins and tail when "proper".
I also think I want a rose on my badge. I've liked that idea ever since
I saw a red rose painted on a shiny black helm. The default heraldic rose
is not the typical rosebud or double rose of today, but the five petalled
rose seen face on. It defaults to red with green barbs and yellow seeds as
"proper".
Other heraldic colours are available, but I like red for the rose, or
if not, perhaps white or yellow.
Note that I finally decided on the silver dolphin with the red rose. I also changed the scale of the rose on the emblazon as the rose was too large as originally done up as it is shown on the other examples with the rose on the dolphin. The rose must rest 100% on the dolphin and not overlap the edges to be properly "on" the dolphin.
|
Wade's Badge