Bonnacon Heraldry

Bonnacon head

2/2019
It occurred to me that an old SCA heraldry ban might be outdated, and I posted (rather cheekily) my opinion of such. Further discussion has lead me to produce material and research to submit.

I am using this post as a reference collection point. If you have a good reference, please let me know:)

Thanks to all those who participated in the discussion!

In response to my post, Konrad Mailänder posted in forum Feb 17 2019
“In a conversation about the bonacon I did a little research. I found reference to two uses in crests. Richard Chandlor in 1560 was granted a bonacon head as a crest (a lot of places leave out the fact that it was only the head.) And a Bonacon’s head was also granted to Hugh Hollynside of Cheshire in 1561. I could not find images of either.

There is an ancient precedent (1980) that the bonacon is considered offensive. But what if we did what they did in period and only use the head? I think a bonacon head or demi-bonacon should be registerable. It would still have the distinctive features of inward curved horns and a horse-like mane but avoids potentially offensive flaming farts.”

Further points were made (I am protecting anonymity at this point in my posting) and inspired me to proceed with a full body rather than just the head. As Baron Konrad is an experienced Herald, I trust that I need to find examples of bonnacons outside of Heraldic examples, mostly bestiaries.

http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beastgallery80.htm
This site is particularly handy for this task, as it provides a substantial collection, complete with references. My design is a combination of indicating features from these examples, as well as the Herald’s forum discussion.

I confess to being rather proud of my proposed beastie.

1/2024
Pennsic 50 was last summer. I produced a themed variant of the Rosenwald tarot, very popular.
I also submitted the Bonnacon.
Participating Heralds were in favor, fought on my behalf. Turns out there is no official “ban of bonnacons, but vulgar subjects (such as “truck nuts”) are discouraged.  Waiting to see.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnacon
http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beastgallery80.htm

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