Salmon Buttons

[YoungMan]

The Duke of Argyll

Do these salmon buttons His Grace is wearing represent the Salmon of Knowledge, or is there another meaning I'm unfamiliar with?

[JSFMACLJR]

Do these salmon buttons His Grace is wearing represent the Salmon of Knowledge, or is there another meaning I'm unfamiliar with?

Alastair Campbell of Airds, Islay Herald Extraordinary, wrote an excellent article on West Highland heraldry ( http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/westhigh.html ). Here is what he has to say about the salmon:

"The Salmon

This is a most mysterious symbol and one which is clearly of great importance.
Salmon appear frequently in early Celtic mythology as a symbol of Wisdom and Knowledge. They are also a symbol of eternity with their mysterious return to their birthplace from the outermost ocean where they recommence the life cycle - also for their strength and beauty.
Their Knowledge springs from their having eaten the red hazel nuts of Wisdom that fall into the water of the sacred wells from the hazel trees that surround them - the red spots on the salmon's belly derive from this.
This knowledge can be passed on by eating the flesh of the salmon A famous instance of this was the case of Finn MacCool, the mythical leader of the Feinn, the war-bands of young men whose deeds are commemorated in the heroic poetry that is said to spring from the composition of Finn's son Ossian. His great rival was Diarmid whose death he eventually encompasses.
And of course there is the famous story of Somerled himself' whose decision to take on the Norse is said to have been taken as a result of his finally catching the salmon that had long eluded him.
In many civilisations it is the serpent who is endued with magical powers but in Ireland there are no snakes and it is the salmon that takes its place. They have connotations with immortality and when an Irish King defeated another, a ritual killing of the fish in the vanquished king's stew-pond took place.
Even today, the salmon is a Royal Fish and Salmon fishing rights are retained by and dispensed by The Crown
Clearly it is a powerful symbol. To my mind there is a pagan feel to it; I do not think it is the txoua of early Christianity and wonder if it is not a reference to the Old Religion of the Celts, or more accurately, to a person or family connected with it.
On a different note, I have been told by Professor Per Andraesson that although the salmon is a rarity in Norse heraldry he has seen a coin dating back to Jutland in the 8th century which has both a salmon and a galley on it. And even today its use is clearly important to status. When MacCailein Mor goes to the Oban Ball he is clad in a doublet decorated with silver salmon as is Maclean of Duart. And the Campbell chief also displays the mysterious salmon semee on his Standard.
I mentioned earlier the Campbells of Inverawe and the six salmon that decorate the border of their gyronny coat.

There are two 17c stones at Ardchattan Priory for members of the same family that give a coat with a gyronny in each of their four quarters - and a salmon stuffed in underneath them in base.
Also at Ardchattan is the early achievement of Maclntyre of Glennoe which in irregular form show a stag about to be transfixed by an arrow, a galley - and, yet again, a salmon. The Clanranald stone at Arisaig displays the same phenomenon with the salmon forced in at the base of the quartered shield.
Whatever the salmon represents it is obviously of considerable import and it is all the more mysterious that we have apparently forgotten its meaning."

[BroosterB1]

Seems a little up stream to me...bear with me while I get a line on this one....halabit of a story.... Sorry I just could not resist.

Oh and don't let MacLowlife see that doublet, he's bent on world domination.

[MacLowlife]

Tis a good thing His Grace appears to have a youthful figure. I might have to add larceny to my covetouseness if I thought the thing would fit around my middle.

[Phil]

Tis a good thing His Grace appears to have a youthful figure. I might have to add larceny to my covetouseness if I thought the thing would fit around my middle.

Here is mine on a not quite so youthful figure. Same jacket but in blue velvet and no salmon buttons. And its definitely not a fishy tale.