Celtic Crest

[M. A. C. Newsome]

This is all interesting, as I've never before heard it suggested that the clansman's crest badge shouldn't be displayed in color (thought at least one leaflet from the Lord Lyon's page suggests so!), as well as the prospcription agains the belt being blue.

I have always operated under the assumption that the belt was a different animal entirely from the garter used by the Order of the Garter, and since there was no color specified for the belt, it could be any color that the artists wishes.

I find it ironic that, when I have seen the crest depicted in color, the most common color has always been blue!

I also find it extremely odd that if we are not supposed to be showing the clansman's crest in color, that those same authorities would tell us that the belt can be any color other than blue. Are we to go about showing green, purple, brown and red belts, surrounding black and white line art crests???

~M

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Ok, so I was a little suspicious of the fact that there seemed to be contradictory rules regarding this whole color issue, and as the information presented came from "a pamphlet issued by Lord Lyon" that had been "reproduced on electric scotland," I thought I'd go right to the source and look for information on the Lord Lyon's own web site.

About the crest, as it should be displayed by clansmen:

It is correct for these people to wear their Chiefs Crest encircled with a strap and buckle bearing their Chief s Motto or Slogan. The strap and buckle is the sign of the clansman, and he demonstrates his membership of his Chiefs Clan by wearing his Chiefs Crest within it.

Note, no mention of color at all, one way or another. Granted, the information on the web site is pretty basic, and no doubt there is more thorough information available from them upon request.

The only mention I was able to find about the color of the belt specifically was in the guidelines for the Pinsel, which is the heraldic banner flown by a representative of the chief, when the chief is not present, and this is to show his crest within a belt of the "second livery color and buckle (Gold for full cheifs)."

[Highland Logan]

I have always operated under the assumption that the belt was a different animal entirely from the garter used by the Order of the Garter, and since there was no color specified for the belt, it could be any color that the artists wishes.

~M

It is a very different animal, however the clansmens badge was designed using the Order of The Garter as a template. In some of the older designs of the clansmens badge the end of the belt does not loop over the circlet, but through just as the Order. Fox-Davies had some issue with this when he wrote "A Complete Guide to Heraldy".

Frank