ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1655
http://www.s-gabriel.org/1655
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25 May 1999
From:  (Josh Mittleman)


Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!

You asked for suggestions for simple arms with a black rearing unicorn
looking over its shoulder.

The simplest design we can suggest that is sufficiently different from
existing Society heraldry is "Argent, three unicorns rampant reguardant
sable", which has three black unicorns on a silver field, arranged with two
side-by-side in the upper half of the field, and one centered in the lower
half, their bodies facing to the left as you look at them and their heads
looking back to the right [1].  As far as we can tell, you could register
this design.

You wrote that you want the unicorn "emblazioned with silver".  We don't
know what you mean by that.  If you want to place the unicorn on a silver
background, our suggestion above may appeal to you.  If you want to
highlight the unicorn with silver for its eye, horn, hooves, etc., that
would be a fine idea, but you needn't blazon it: These small details were
usually not included in the description of arms in period, and are
considered artistic choices by the Society College of Arms.

The unicorn was not used in early heraldry.  It came into use around the
beginning of the 14th century.  Having beast looking over its shoulder is
also a fairly late-period motif.  If you want a design typical of the early
heraldic period, then you should consider another charge [2].

We hope this letter has been useful.  Please write us again if any part of
it has been unclear or if you have other questions.  I was assisted in
researching and writing this letter by Blaise de Cormeilles, Talan
Gwynek, Zenobia Naphtali, and Rouland Carre.

For the Academy,


  Arval Benicoeur
  25 May 1999


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References

[1] You couldn't register the single black unicorn on a plain background,
as that would be too similar to the Society arms of either Ferelith
MacDonald "Argent, a unicorn counter-rampant reguardant triple-tailed
sable, armed, crined and unguled Or" or Charles Edward Alexander Everman,
"Ermine, a unicorn rampant sable, armed, crined, tufted on the hocks, and
unguled gules."

[2] Pastoreau, M., _Traite/ d'He/raldique_ (Paris, 1993).