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Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

R. Weir (View posts)
Posted: 28 Oct 2005 3:52PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have a 19th century silver coffee urn with an engraved coat of arms. How do identify the family name associated with the coat of arms?
Thank you.
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Re: Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

G2 (View posts)
Posted: 29 Oct 2005 7:50AM GMT
Sorry, but it's too indistinct to identify as it is.

Re: Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

R. Weir (View posts)
Posted: 29 Oct 2005 2:05PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have added a couple of better photos. There are Griffins on each side of the shield (in a rampant stance?); a crown on top; and the shield has a bend (diagonal line).

Thank you again for your help!
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Re: Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

G2 (View posts)
Posted: 30 Oct 2005 2:47AM GMT
Still undecipherable. The supporters appear to be different in that the sinister supporter looks like a winged dog with a long tail whilst the dexter supporter looks more like a winged bear with a stumpy tail and two differently styled feet at the rear. The 'crown' is a 'ducal coronet' and signifies nothing in particular. The 'bend' is a bend sinister and besides some sort of cross[?] in the first quarter, nothing else visually springs to mind.
I fear that you will never be able to actually identify if the arms are genuine or not as the consistent parts of the quartered arms are indiscernable.

Re: Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

G2 (View posts)
Posted: 27 Dec 2005 12:48AM GMT
Hi,

Merry Christmas.

Even with the new photos the achievement is really just about impossible to positively identify. After looking at your photos, I have come to the conclusion that they are possibly not genuine arms at all - that's just my opinion. That conclusion is for a number of reasons:
1. There are supporters without any coronet/crown of a peer.
2. There is no motto.
3. The crown shown is that of a 'ducal coronet' which is an heraldic charge and has no social status whatsoever.

They definitely aren't Griffins - to me the one on the right looks like a winged dog, and that on the left looks something like a winged 'beast' composed of the upper half of a Bear with the hind quarters of a member of the goat or even deer family - a rather unusual combination.

The contents of the shield are almost impossible to determine other than the upper left charge appears to be a Cross Formée fitchée and then it becomes indistinguishable. I can't even actually confirm if the shield is quartered or not.

The Bend, which is actually a Bend sinister, appears to be charged with three Round Buckles which, in itself, means nothing at all other than a possible difference to another similar coat of arms.

I'm sorry I can't be more positive. You might have to resort to the services of one of the larger auction houses, such as Southerbys and see if they can come up aith something more positive. If you feel that you might have sufficient funds, you could even approach the Officer in Waiting at the College of Arms in London for a possible identification. You can initiate an enquiry with them via the following URL - http://college-of-arms.gov.uk/Enquiries.htm

If you do have any success elsewhere, it would be appreciated by all readers if you could let us know the outcome.

May I wish you a Happy Hogmanay.

Re: Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

R. Weir (View posts)
Posted: 27 Dec 2005 1:27AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for all your efforts! I will let you know if I follow-up with the College of Arms.

The only other insight I can provide is that the engraver's stamp on the bottom indicates it was work done by Arthur Gaskin (an illustrator and silversmith in the late 1800's/early 1900's). The date of the urn itself is the later part of the 19th century.

Re: Coat of Arms -- how to identify family name

Posted: 9 Apr 2015 9:42PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gaskin
Can I get a little more information on this Arthur Gaskin because I think that he may be a relative of mine. Where was he born and what is the name of his father? Thanking you in advance.
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