Guardant

Gules, a cross Argent charged with four ermine spots in cross Sable, in the dexter of the chief a lion’s head erased Or. Crest: Upon a helm befitting his degree issuant from a crown of Baron above the shield, with a chapeau Gules turned up ermine, a demi-lion, double queued Or, grasping in its dexter paw a pennon Gules, bearing a canton Azure, charged with a saltire Argent. Mantling: Gules doubled Argent. War cry above the crest: «ΑΛΑΛΑ ΑΛΑΛΑ». Motto: «Mieux vaut s’user que rouiller». Supporters: Two knights in three-quarter armour affronty proper, each holding with his outer hand a spear Argent bearing a banner, the dexter Sable, a panther rampant guardant Argent, incensed Or, collared, pendent therefrom a bell Azure, the sinister a banner barry of six Or and Azure, a canton Ermine.

Arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed outer contour and with a freehand finish.

G0116, Chief Herald of Arms of Malta's grant for the arms of Andrew Ronald McMillan Bell of Auchinreoch, United Kingdom. These arms have been emblazoned by me for such grant.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Sable, Or, Azure, One, Four, Six, Cross, Charged, Ermine, In cross, Dexter, Chief, Lion, Head, Erased, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Issuant, Crown of Baron, Crown, Above the shield, Chapeau, Demi, Double queued, Grasping, Canton, Saltire, War cry, Above the crest, Motto, Supporter (human form), Supporter, Knight, Affronty, Proper, Spear, Panther, Rampant, Guardant, Enflamed, Collar, Suspended, Bell and Barry.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa, Coat of arms, Pennon, Flag and Banner of arms.

Bearer: McMillan Bell of Auchinreoch, Andrew Ronald.

A lozenge Or, charged with a fox rampant, guardant, holding in its dexter paw a federschwert bend sinisterwise proper, within a bordure Vert.

Heraldic device painted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, and with a rough finish.

Heraldic badge of Jason Landers Northam from Illinois, emblazoned by me. The federschwert, feder sword, or «feather sword» translated from German, is a training sword developed in the late 15^th century and used during the 16^th century in Renaissance fencing schools. Its design allowed safe and realistic practice, reducing the risk of serious injuries while preserving the handling of a real sword. Today it remains in use within Historical European Martial Arts, combining historical fidelity with safety.

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Blazon keywords: Or, Vert, One, Lozenge, Fox, Rampant, Guardant, Federschwert, Sword, Proper, Within and Bordure.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Rough.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Badge.

Bearer: Northam, Jason Landers.

Vert, on three chevrons Or nine oak leaves Vert, 3, 3, and 3. Crest: Upon a helm with a wreath Or and Vert, a demi-fox guardant, holding in its dexter paw a federschwert bend sinisterwise proper. Mantling: Vert doubled Or.

Coat of arms depicted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed external shape and with a rough finish.

Coat of arms of Jason Landers Northam from Illinois, emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Vert, Or, Three, Nine, One, Chevron, Oak, Tree, Leaf, Crest and mantling, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Wreath, Demi, Fox, Guardant, Federschwert, Sword, Proper, Mantling and Doubled.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Rough.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Northam, Jason Landers.

Vert, on three chevrons Or nine oak leaves Vert, 3, 3, and 3. Crest: Upon a helm with a wreath Or and Vert, a demi-fox guardant, holding in its dexter paw a federschwert bend sinisterwise proper. Mantling: Vert doubled Or. Motto: «Callidus, Curae Plenus, Facetus».

Arms painted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed external shape and with a rough finish.

Design rationale

The fox refers to the clever and resourceful character attributed to the armiger’s family. The federschwert evokes his dedication to Historical European Martial Arts, in particular the German school of Liechtenauer and the long sword. The oak leaves have a double meaning: they symbolize nature and spirituality, linked to his belonging to the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and being nine in number they allude to his Irish heritage and the legendary figure of Niall of the Nine Hostages. His ancestry includes Irish, English and German roots, the latter once again connected to the sword. The motto translates as «Clever, Caring, Witty».

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Blazon keywords: Vert, Or, Three, Nine, One, Chevron, Oak, Tree, Leaf, Crest and mantling, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Wreath, Demi, Fox, Guardant, Federschwert, Sword, Proper, Mantling, Doubled and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Rough.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Design rationale, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Northam, Jason Landers.

Gules, a cross Argent charged with four ermine spots in cross Sable, in the dexter of the chief a lion’s head erased Or. Crest: Upon a helm befitting his degree issuant from a crown of Baron above the shield, with a chapeau Gules turned up ermine, a demi-lion, double queued Or, grasping in its dexter paw a pennon Gules, bearing a canton Azure, charged with a saltire Argent. Mantling: Gules doubled Argent. War cry above the crest: «ΑΛΑΛΑ ΑΛΑΛΑ». Motto: «Mieux vaut s’user que rouiller». Supporters: Two knights in three-quarter armour affronty proper, each holding with his outer hand a spear Argent bearing a banner, the dexter Sable, a panther rampant guardant Argent, incensed Or, collared, pendent therefrom a bell Azure, the sinister a banner barry of six Or and Azure, a canton Ermine, terraced Vert semé of Maltese Rock Centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius) slipped proper.

Arms interpreted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed outer contour and with a freehand finish.

G0116, Chief Herald of Arms of Malta's grant for the arms of Andrew Ronald McMillan Bell of Auchinreoch, United Kingdom. These arms have been emblazoned by me for such grant. The English term «terraced», sometimes used in blazon, is equivalent to the term «compartment». In Castilian blazon we use the term «terrazado», in this case as an element outside the shield, while «terrazado» also exists inside the shield in base.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Sable, Or, Azure, Vert, One, Four, Six, Cross, Charged, Ermine, In cross, Dexter, Chief, Lion, Head, Erased, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Issuant, Crown of Baron, Crown, Above the shield, Chapeau, Demi, Double queued, Grasping, Canton, Saltire, War cry, Above the crest, Motto, Supporter (human form), Supporter, Knight, Affronty, Proper, Spear, Panther, Rampant, Guardant, Enflamed, Collar, Suspended, Bell, Barry, Compartment, Semé and Slipped.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa, Coat of arms, Pennon, Flag and Banner of arms.

Bearer: McMillan Bell of Auchinreoch, Andrew Ronald.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a bull salient, guardant Gules, on a chief Azure, three mullets of six points Or [for Testaferrata, baronial line]. 2 Argent, a mulberry tree proper on a terrace in base Vert [for Moroni]. 3 quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a bull salient, guardant Gules, on a chief Or, a demi-eagle displayed Sable, beaked and langued Gules [for Testaferrata, line of the Knights of the Holy Roman Empire]; 2 quarterly: i and iv Gules, a castle of three towers Or, ii and iii Azure, a griffin segreant Argent [for Castelletti]; 3 Or, a head affronty, couped and vulned Proper, crined Sable between two arms embowed proper, vambraced Sable, grasping it by the hair, in chief three mullets of six points Gules [for Viani]. All within a bordure Gules for difference. Crest: Upon a helm befitting his degree issuant from a crown of Roman Patrician above the shield, with a wreath Argent and Gules, a demi-bull guardant Gules. Mantling: Gules doubled Argent. Motto: «Non nisi per ardua».

Coat of arms painted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finish.

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Blazon keywords: Argent, Gules, Azure, Or, Sable, Vert, One, Two, Three, Quarterly, Bull, Salient, Guardant, Chief, Mullet, Mulberry tree, Proper, Terrace in base, Demi, Eagle, Beaked, Langued, Castle, Tower, Griffin, Segreant, Head, Affronty, Couped, Vulned, Crined, Between, Arm vambraced, Embowed, Grasping, In chief, Bordure, Cadency, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Issuant, Crown of Roman Patrician, Crown, Above the shield, Wreath, Mantling and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Testaferrata Moroni, Viani Martin.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a bull salient, guardant Gules, on a chief Azure, three mullets of six points Or [for Testaferrata, baronial line]. 2 Argent, a mulberry tree proper on a terrace in base Vert [for Moroni]. 3 quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a bull salient, guardant Gules, on a chief Or, a demi-eagle displayed Sable, beaked and langued Gules [for Testaferrata, line of the Knights of the Holy Roman Empire]; 2 quarterly: i and iv Gules, a castle of three towers Or, ii and iii Azure, a griffin segreant Argent [for Castelletti]; 3 Or, a head affronty, couped and vulned Proper, crined Sable between two arms embowed proper, vambraced Sable, grasping it by the hair, in chief three mullets of six points Gules [for Viani]. All within a bordure Gules for difference.

G0115: the coat of arms of Dr Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani, of Malta, as granted by the Chief Herald of Arms of Malta and emblazoned by me for this grant. The image combines the finished painted coat of arms with a photograph showing 2 successive hand-drawn studies of the bull salient and guardant described in the blazon. Executed directly in ink on translucent tracing paper, the lower sheet preserves an earlier stage of the artwork, while the upper sheet presents a more advanced version of the same bull salient and guardant. Both belong to the development of the charge that appears in 4 quarters of this coat of arms. Above the photograph appears my painting of this coat of arms, allowing a comparison between the successive hand-drawn stages and their final heraldic interpretation. In this case, both this bull salient and guardant and the demi-bull guardant of the crest were developed taking into account the armiger’s wish that they should retain a certain stylistic continuity with an existing family representation, while still preserving my own manner of drawing and painting.

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Blazon keywords: Argent, Gules, Azure, Or, Sable, Vert, One, Two, Three, Quarterly, Bull, Salient, Guardant, Chief, Mullet, Mulberry tree, Proper, Terrace in base, Demi, Eagle, Beaked, Langued, Castle, Tower, Griffin, Segreant, Head, Affronty, Couped, Vulned, Crined, Between, Arm vambraced, Embowed, Grasping, In chief, Bordure and Cadency.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Ogee.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa, Hand-drawn, Collage and Photographic.

Bearer: Testaferrata Moroni, Viani Martin.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a bull salient, guardant Gules, on a chief Azure, three mullets of six points Or [for Testaferrata, baronial line]. 2 Argent, a mulberry tree proper on a terrace in base Vert [for Moroni]. 3 quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a bull salient, guardant Gules, on a chief Or, a demi-eagle displayed Sable, beaked and langued Gules [for Testaferrata, line of the Knights of the Holy Roman Empire]; 2 quarterly: i and iv Gules, a castle of three towers Or, ii and iii Azure, a griffin segreant Argent [for Castelletti]; 3 Or, a head affronty, couped and vulned Proper, crined Sable between two arms embowed proper, vambraced Sable, grasping it by the hair, in chief three mullets of six points Gules [for Viani]. All within a bordure Gules for difference.

G0115: the coat of arms of Dr Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani, of Malta, as granted by the Chief Herald of Arms of Malta and emblazoned by me for this grant. The photograph shows my hand-drawn delineation of the mulberry tree. The tree that I originally drew is in fact the mirror image of the one finally used in the coat of arms. This is a normal part of my working process: I draw the elements by hand in ink and then digitize them, which allows me to reverse an image when I consider that the mirrored version works better within the overall composition of the arms. In this particular case, the reversal also helped to maintain a certain visual continuity with another family representation of the same arms, which the armiger wished to take into account. A similar consideration applied to the bull, for which the armiger also requested a stylistic approach broadly consistent with an existing family representation, while still preserving my own manner of drawing and painting.

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Blazon keywords: Argent, Gules, Azure, Or, Sable, Vert, One, Two, Three, Quarterly, Bull, Salient, Guardant, Chief, Mullet, Mulberry tree, Proper, Terrace in base, Demi, Eagle, Beaked, Langued, Castle, Tower, Griffin, Segreant, Head, Affronty, Couped, Vulned, Crined, Between, Arm vambraced, Embowed, Grasping, In chief, Bordure and Cadency.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Ogee.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa, Hand-drawn, Collage and Photographic.

Bearer: Testaferrata Moroni, Viani Martin.