Laurel Cope
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 Cope of the Order of the Laurel | ||||
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Inspired by the Lochac Pelican cloak, Giuseppe Francesco da Borgia and Richenda Elizabeth Coffin proposed that the Order of the Laurel in Caid authorize the undertaking of a similar project. On receiving the Order's approval, Giuseppe and Richenda designed and created a blue velvet cope overlain with a grid of silver gimp. Each interstice will be filled with the coat of arms of one of the Companions of the Order.
The cope may be used in elevation ceremonies, and during Coronations when the Charters of the Orders are rendered to the Crown.
While medieval and renaissance copes were decorated with Christian art, there are also examples of heraldry being used; the Syon Cope at the V&A (1300-1320; linen backing silk, silver-gilt, and silver thread embroidery) uses strips decorated with heraldic shields to extend fragments of an earlier chasuble to complete the surface of the cope.
The goal of this project was to create a new ceremonial garment that honored the text of the elevation ceremony: "As this cloak folds you in warmth, so does the Order of the Laurel enfold you in companionship." We chose the cope shape to display the unity of a group of diverse individuals, and to avoid confusion with the Order Robes, which identify a person as part of the Order. Other than size, there are no restrictions on the era, culture, materials or design of a Companion's arms for the cope.
Specifications for Arms on the Cope
For a heater-shaped shield, finished dimensions are 3.5" wide by 4.0" long. For a lozenge, the dimensions are 3.5" wide by 4.5" long. Other shapes may be acceptable; consult Giuseppe or Richenda before using a non-standard shield.
Companions' Arms on the Cope
Astra Christiana Benedict
Per fess azure, mulletty Or, and purpure, crusilly Or (06/90).
Maker: Astra Christiana Benedict
Cristobal degli Glicine che Mangia Uome
Sable, a peacock rising, wings elevated and addorsed, maintaining a sprig of wisteria, all argent.(registered 08/88).
Maker: Cristobal degli Glicine che Mangia Uome
Richenda Elizabeth Coffin
Gules, on a bend between two daffodils bells to dexter base slipped and leaved Or, three crosses bottony palewise gules (registered 06/02).
Maker: Richenda Elizabeth Coffin
Materials: Silk floss & gold passing thread on linen.
Tetchubah of Greenlake
Per chevron vert and Or, two quills in chevron Or and a rose sable (registered 05/86).
Maker: Louise of Woodsholme
Otuell Gowe
Per fess azure and vert, two boars passant counter-passant Or (registered 02/03).
Maker: Otuell Gowe
Materials: Gold-plated repousse bronze.
Notes: based on Iron Age British "votive" shields, associated with the Salisbury Hoard.
Móirín Chiardhubh ní Bhárdáin
Per chevron sable and vert, three spiral hunting horns reversed argent (registered 01/97).
Maker: Móirín Chiardhubh ní Bhárdáin
Martin FitzJames
Per chevron argent and sable, three roses in chevron proper and a sword fesswise argent (registered 01/08).
Maker: Móirín Chiardhubh ní Bhárdáin
Maria Theresa Ipeñarrieta
Vert, a mullet of five greater and five lesser points argent within and conjoined at the greater points to five crescents in annulo, horns inward, Or (registered 07/91).
Maker: Louise of Woodsholme
Mela de Prion
Vert, a pair of wings conjoined Or and in chief a swan naiant argent (registered 11/86).
Maker: Louise of Woodsholme
Louise of Woodsholme
Per fess embattled gules and erminois, in base a candle argent, in a flat candlestick sable, enflamed proper (registered 06/73).
Maker: Louise of Woodsholme
Hroar sviðandi
Or, a pitcher vert and a bordure gules (registered 12/02).
Maker: Huette Aliza von und zu Ährens und Mechthildberg
Giuseppe Francesco da Borgia
Per saltire gules and sable, in pale two harps and in fess two chalices issuant from each a dagger inverted Or (registered 09/95).
Maker: Giuseppe Francesco da Borgia
Gareth Nikodemos Somerset
Per pale gules and Or, three towers counterchanged (registered 07/99).
Maker: Louise of Woodsholme
Damales Redbeard
Or, a pegasus volant to sinister, wings elevated and addorsed, within a bordure sable (registered 01/92).
Maker: Louise of Woodsholme
Bruce Draconarius
Azure, on a chief embattled argent a dragon couchant azure winged sable, as an augmentation the dragon maintaining between its forefeet an escutcheon azure charged with four crescents conjoined in saltire, horns outward argent. (registered 10/81).
Maker: Astra Christiana Benedict
Klaus von Mainz
Checky gules and Or, on a chevron sable five crosses formy argent (registered 12/01).
Maker: Louise of Woodsholme
Notes: The shield is diapered with a crescent worked in chain-stitch.
Éowyn Amberdrake
Azure, in pale three dragons passant Or and for augmentation, in canton four crescents conjoined in saltire horns outward argent. (registered 7/04).
Maker: Eowyn Amberdake
Notes: The shield is silk dupioni, embroidered with typical Elizabethan stitches in gold and silver thread.
