Is X Marks the Scot a Clan?

**sporranlegionaire** · 18th August 07, 04:41 AM

In my capacity of (retired) graphic designer, I thought I'd throw this into the melting pot as maybe the starting point of an emblem/badge design...

The leaves obviously make an 'X'. The centre of the leaves are interlinked as a representation of 'brotherhood'. The decided motto I would see as being underneath, across the lower leaves, on a curved panel.

**Mael Coluim** · 18th August 07, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by sporranlegionaire

In my capacity of (retired) graphic designer, I thought I'd throw this into the melting pot as maybe the starting point of an emblem/badge design...

The leaves obviously make an 'X'. The centre of the leaves are interlinked as a representation of 'brotherhood'. The decided motto I would see as being underneath, across the lower leaves, on a curved panel.

AWESOME!

**Hachiman** · 18th August 07, 06:24 AM

Hi folks!

What an amazing feeling, reading thru this thread!

Sporranlegionaire, I like your design! I'd suggest using the traditional garter belt to encircle the emblem, perhaps?

And that motto, "By choice, not blood" is simply excellent!

As for the "clan/not a clan" commentary, well.... sociologists have been discussing the way the Internet has enabled people from every country to find like-minded people and form a 'community'... they aren't classified as a "group" because they are united by a shared purpose, a shared sense of belonging, and a shared sense of identity. I think X-Markers qualify as a community in the sociological sense, and if that's not a clan, I don't know what is!

Now... about that xmarks cloth?

cheers
Hachiman

**pdcorlis** · 18th August 07, 09:05 AM

Not to be a stickler here but the plant badge is usually just that - the plant. In that way it is separate from the clan crest and its symbols and motto.

**Panache** · 18th August 07, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by pdcorlis

Not to be a stickler here but the plant badge is usually just that - the plant. In that way it is separate from the clan crest and its symbols and motto.

I also thought that the plant badge predates tartan and clan crests.
At the last games I was at with Walkerk and I were delighted to meet a gentleman sporting a small twig of boxwood behind his clan badge. We were the first people to know that he hadn't inadvertently walked into the shubbery...

Cheers

Jamie

**Don Patrick** · 18th August 07, 09:37 AM

If there is still room for comment, my vote is for the dandelion plant badge and the "By choice, not blood" motto.

A war cry? Hail X Clan!

**macwilkin** · 18th August 07, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by pdcorlis

Not to be a stickler here but the plant badge is usually just that - the plant. In that way it is separate from the clan crest and its symbols and motto.

Phil,

The plant badge is a clan symbol, though, and may be related to the Chief's arms -- for example, my clan, the Cummings, have a spring of wheat as our plant badge, since three garbs of wheat are depicted on our Chief's arms. The garbs are actually supposed to be sheafs of the Cumin plant, since one of the theories of the origin of the name Cumming comes from the Cumin plant -- it was a Norman pun.

Regards,

Todd

**MacWage** · 18th August 07, 09:51 AM

A plant badge is worn BEHIND the cockade and metal badge.

In the pre-Culloden days, the badge was simply pinned to the bonnet itself, NO COCKADE or BADGE.

Historically, the emblem inside the belt was the CREST of the chief-> what appeared on the HEAD of the helmet (helm) within the coat of arms. It had LITTLE do with the plant badge, tartan, most other stuff. One of the most interesting things (to me) is the IMPORTANCE that crest has taken in the Scottish context, in contrast to MOST crests across Europe.

**Don Patrick** · 18th August 07, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by MacWage

A plant badge is worn BEHIND the cockade and metal badge.

Maybe I've misunderstood. I was preparing to order a plant badge for the Lamont Clan. The crab apple leaves are designed as part of the badge - or am I just guilty of commercial marketing?

**macwilkin** · 18th August 07, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by MacWage

A plant badge is worn BEHIND the cockade and metal badge.

In the pre-Culloden days, the badge was simply pinned to the bonnet itself, NO COCKADE or BADGE.

Historically, the emblem inside the belt was the CREST of the chief-> what appeared on the HEAD of the helmet (helm) within the coat of arms. It had LITTLE do with the plant badge, tartan, most other stuff. One of the most interesting things (to me) is the IMPORTANCE that crest has taken in the Scottish context, in contrast to MOST crests across Europe.

Actually, there were cockades worn before Culloden, John. An illustration from Reid's 18th Century Highlanders depicts a member of one of the Independent Highland Companies in the 1730's (the forerunners of the Black Watch) wearing a bonnet with a yellow cockade and a saltire or x-shaped cross made from red material. I also seem to remember a debate among ECW reenactors as to whether covenanting forces during the 1600s wore white saltires. Not sure of the documentation on that one, though.

Originally Posted by Don Patrick

Maybe I've misunderstood. I was preparing to order a plant badge for the Lamont Clan. The crab apple leaves are designed as part of the badge - or am I just guilty of commercial marketing?

Don -- it is my understanding that the Lamonts have an "alternate" badge that depicts their plant badge that members sometimes wear. I know of at least one person here that uses it as an avatar.

Regards,

Todd