Has any one ever seen one of these in real life?

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 7th February 12, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by MacRob46

What Jim Maxwell is wearing in the photo above appears to be a badge of office or perhaps an award for service to his clan society. The Clan Gunn awards those and I have a couple myself.

I think the idea that the chief gave his clansmen metal badges with his crest to wear to signify their allegiance is probably Victorian nonsense. The true badge of the clan was whatever plant badge they had adopted to wear in their bonnets. I have never seen an ancient metal badge purporting to be one of those mysterious insignias

There used to be several badges of this type on display in Warwick Castle, worn by the retainers of the Earls of Warwick in the 15th century. At one time there was also a retainer's badge of the Fitz-Gerald Earls of Kildare in the Heraldic Museum at Dublin Castle which was said to date from the 16th century.

In Scotland these badges weren't handed out to every clansman, but rather were given to specific individuals charged with carrying out specific tasks by their chief, and they were returned to the chief once that commission was carried out. In other words these badges represented the authority of a chief, as delegated to one of his "ain folk". It is generally agreed by Scottish armorists that with the passage of time these badges, which in all likelihood pre-dated the arrival of heraldry in the Highlands, eventually became adopted as crests; certainly this was the position taken by Innes of Learney and Gair of Gair and Nigg. With the advent of mass production, and the mid-ninteenth century "Highland revival", clan badges, as we now know them, became widely available to the buying public, replacing the older plant badge as a sign of belonging to a clan. There was, however, nothing "invented" about their shape as we find examples of crests within a strap and buckle engraved on all sorts of Scottish objects that pre-date the Highland revival by several hundred years.

**Harold Cannon** · 7th February 12, 07:50 PM

Scott, Thank you for the information! This might be a nice thing for a chief's herald to have! I just need to find some images to go by.

**James Hood** · 12th February 12, 05:34 PM

Brings to mind gorgets used as part of military uniforms.

**macwilkin** · 12th February 12, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by James Hood

Brings to mind gorgets used as part of military uniforms.

I believe the St. Andrew's Society of Washington, DC uses a gorget with the society arms as the badge of office of the President.

T.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 12th February 12, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I believe the St. Andrew's Society of Washington, DC uses a gorget with the society arms as the badge of office of the President.

T.

Quite correct!

The use of gorgets engraved with a chief's badge, or some some other device, for members of the chief's "tail" has been discussed in the past. I may be in error, but I believe that David Lumsden of Cushine may have had a gorget as Garioch Pursuivant to the Countess of Mar.

**Mark E.** · 12th February 12, 09:53 PM

I once saw a unicorn, but think it was the effects of some REALLY GOOD mead...

On a more serious and to the point note...It sorta looks like an artistic rendition of a round gorget, popular, say...1670-1800? I saw one in a painting of a Welshman once, a good while back. Don't recall the artist, sorry.

**Gael Ridire** · 12th February 12, 11:59 PM

When I was active with the Clan Kennedy Society as a national chieftain, I came up with the idea that something needed to be done for those who do a lot for the clan, whether here or elsewhere. The Marquess of Ailsa and Chief of Kennedy liked the idea and thus I decided on using the clan plant badge of the oak, being not used & mentioned rarely in a few history books. Thus the attached drawing of "The Companion of the Oak." Had a local jewelry maker do the carving and casting of the medallion which was suspended from a ribbon around the neck. The original engraving of the dolphin looked 100% better then in the drawing. The award was given to only three who were the first founders in America of the society. Unfortunately Lord Ailsa died and a couple years later the North American society chief died, a struggle ensued and the mold was lost. Several years later the new Lord Ailsa & society chief wanted to revise the award. Haven't learned what happened.

I think this idea of such or like award and honor should be done by all. When I first saw the art it reminded me of the collar of office that so many wear in Europe.