Heraldic Charge of The Week!
by HL Taran Saraev
The Maunch
A heraldic charge is an emblem, figure, or picture that is displayed on a piece of heraldic armory. Examples of heraldic armory are devices (coats of arms in mundanea), ensigns (flags), or badges. This week we are looking at the maunch.
This heraldic charge can be seen as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. A maunch, or maunche, is a greatly stylized (ladies) sleeve. The word maunch has its origins with the French word “manche” meaning simply sleeve. The sleeve is seen detached with a long hanging cuff. Apparently in the Middle Ages it was popular for ladies to give their sleeves as favors in tournaments. Displaying the maunch on ones arm came to be a way for one to show his popularity with the ladies, or that he was beloved by his wife. In the SCA the default is for the wrist to be at dexter (viewers left), and the elbow bent to base (bottom). In Trimaris the maunch is prominently featured on the order badge of the Order of the Herald's Tressure. This award is given for exemplary and continued service as a herald. It is blazoned, “(Fieldless) A maunch azure semy of triskeles argent.” Which could be described as a blue maunch with white triskeles all over it on any background.
[pictures from pic dic]
http://mistholme.com/dictionary/maunch/
http://www.aeheralds.net/submissions/traceable_art/IndivPDFs/Maunche.pdf
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