Heraldic Regalia and How to Wear It
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Last Updated: January, 2018
Author: Hirsch von Henford
Information on Designs for Use in Making Heraldic Regalia: Astrith of Swansvale
Policy Level: WK Policy
Intended Audience: All Heralds
Abstract: Brief description of the types of heraldic garments and regalia worn in the West,
with instruction on when to wear them.
Each herald while on duty should wear appropriate heraldic regalia. This is most important for the field, duty and court heralds, because it indicates that the words that they are saying are official, and not personal opinions. It is desirable for heralds doing consultation or other duties to wear regalia, but often the presence of the table under a heralds' banner is regarded as de facto wearing of regalia, and all persons seated on the 'operations' side of the table are assumed to be heralds on duty.
The converse of the statement that each herald on duty should be wearing regalia, is that any herald wearing regalia is assumed, by both the people and by other heralds, to be on duty. Therefore if you go off duty, you should immediately remove your regalia. In addition, if you are called into court and are wearing regalia, you should remove the regalia unless you are specifically handling heraldic business.
There are set standards of regalia for each level of rank. However, the major concern is that a herald on duty wear SOMETHING green with the crossed trumpets of the College on them, not necessarily the exact type of regalia appropriate to his rank. If the only piece of regalia remaining is a cloak, and a Cornet needs to go out on the field to make an announcement, then the Cornet should wear the cloak, not waste time looking for a baldric. If at all possible, you should attempt to make, or have made for you, the proper regalia for your rank. This is as follows:
Cornets:
A green baldric, on which is a pair of gold trumpets
in saltire, on front and if possible on the back. It
does not matter which shoulder the baldric is slung
from. A cornet herald should NOT make a baldric,
but should use one if available. If you are serious in
your pursuit of heraldry, make a tabard.
Pursuivants Extraordinary:
A tabard, sleeveless, with the trumpets on front and
back. Custom has established that the trumpets on
the back are large and extend across the back, and
the trumpets on the front are smaller and centered
on the left breast. A tabard with large trumpets
centered front and back is also acceptable. The
tabard may be belted or allowed to hang loose.
Pursuivants/Heralds:
A green cloak, with the trumpets large and centered
on the back and optionally (but preferred) over the
left breast. A cloak may be expensive, and if you
can't afford it, see if your branch can help defray
expenses. Remember that if the branch pays for it
the branch owns it, and pass the cloak on to your
successor.
Titled Pursuivants/Heralds:
A sleeved tabard, with the arms of your branch on
the front and back, and either the arms of the branch
on the sleeves (this is the period form of an heraldic
tabard) or the sleeves can be green and have the
gold trumpets of the College on them. This form of
tabard is always official, and stays with the office,
not the person holding it. This form of tabard is
almost never worn belted, but rather is fastened at
the side by ties or buttons, or allowed to hang free.
It should be noted here that baldrics are generally less visible than tabards. If you are creating spare heraldic regalia to be used by cornets and trainees it would be better to make tabards than baldrics, despite the expense of more fabric. Every branch larger than a shire should have spare tabards if at all possible to allow for the fact that more than one herald will be active at events.
Designs for Use in Making Heraldic Regalia
Additional Information provided by Astrith of Swansvale
Mistress Rowan Perigrynne investigated the variations in tabards worn by medieval heralds when she made the tabard for the first Crux Australis Herald. She has posted an article on the subject that includes a pattern and suggestions for fabric and construction1. This article contains suggestions for simple, sturdy tabards for general use as well as for the most elaborate of formal tabards for Kingdom Heralds.
CAVEAT 1: squares in the tabard pattern are 2 CENTIMETERS on a side, but the neck opening is actually drawn to 14 centimeters, not the '12' that it is labeled. A neck opening that is 14 centimeters on each side (28 cm total) would give a total neck opening width of about 11 inches instead of 9.5 inches, which is too large for most people. You should try it with only 12 centimeters for half the neck opening = 6 squares. You can always cut the neck opening larger if that is too small for you. The other measurement labels correctly match the number of squares multiplied by 2.
CAVEAT 2: Mistress Rowan's tabard was made for the Principal Herald of the new kingdom and therefore, has sleeves. In West Kingdom usage, tabards for non-titled heralds should omit the sleeves from personal tabards2. In that case, the pattern mentioned below may help you determine where to draw the line to make a sleeveless tabard. If you make, or arrange to have made, a tabard to wear as branch herald, it will have the sleeves, but it will stay with the group.
The front of the neck opening is cut lower than the back of the neck opening.
There is another tabard pattern on the Atlantia herald's website. Note that the dimensions in the drawing makes it appear that the sleeves are cut at an angle. However, in the photo of the actual tabard immediately below the pattern, it appears that the sleeves are cut on a straight line. Again, a tabard for personal use should be made without sleeves.
Conversion Table for Measurements
| Measurement | Centimeters | Inches (Approximately) |
|---|---|---|
| Neck opening from side fold line | 12 | 4.75 |
| Shoulder from side fold line | 26 | 10.25 |
| Sleeve hem from side fold line | 54 | 21.25 |
| Maximum width of tunic bottom from side fold line | 40 | 15.75 |
| Bottom of sleeve from top fold line | 36 | 14.2 |
| Final hem from top fold line | 94 | 37 |
| Unturned hem from top fold line | 98 | 38.5 |
1 Tabard pattern and suggestions for fabric and construction:
[http://herald.lochac.sca.org/files/2014/01/Tabard_Rowan.pdf].
2 Non-titled heralds should omit the sleeves from personal tabards, as noted
in the main part of this article.
3Another tabard pattern on the Atlantia herald's website:
[http://herald.atlantia.sca.org/tabard.htm].