Lady Elena Wyth, Insignia Deputy
insignia@herald.ansteorra.org
Ansteorra has a wonderful tradition of the Crown giving insignia to award recipients, so that they may
wear a token and be recognized for their achievements. The insignia is often donated to the Crown by
both groups and individual members of the populace. Making insignia is a wonderful gift that you, too,
can give! There are many different types of insignia, and different skills required to complete them. This handout is an effort to break down the different types of insignia and materials needed, as well
as their relative need.
When Creating insignia, keep in mind that there are several people these can be turned into! Sable
Scroll is the first, and best choice to hand insignia over to, but you may also deliver created insignia to
the Crown, a member of their entourage, or to the Insignia Deputy.
Braids:
Sable Falcon – Black, Gold
Queen’s Rapier – Red, White
King’s Archer – Green, Black
Golden Bridle – Gold, Green, White
Sable Flur – Green, White
Sable Sparrow – Black, Gold, Red
Materials: 1.5-2” metal ring, 30-36” cording
Cording: satin, macramé cord, leather lacing, etc
Finished Braid: 20” total, once looped on ring: approximately 9” each side.
The braids range from simple to complex. We have had single and double-stranded 3-and 4-strand
braids as well as braids done with kumihimo. With thick enough cording you could also complete
these with finger loop braiding. The goal is to show each color equally, and get them to a finished
length such that they can be seen when hanging from a belt, but not be overly large or burdensome.
Generally speaking, Sable Falcon and Queen’s Rapier are the most frequently awarded of the
braided awards, with Sable Flur and Sable Sparrow becoming more frequent. King’s Archer is of
moderate need and Golden Bridle is fairly low.
Ribbons:
Star of Merit – Gold trimmed in Black, Ansteorran star centered on Gold stripe at end
Centurion – Gold trimmed in Red, Ansteorran star centered on Gold stripe at end
Golden Lance – Black trimmed in Gold, Gold lance centered on Black stripe at end
Arc d’Or White, Black, Gold, Black, White – equal bands
Iris of Merit – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet
Materials: crochet thread (cotton, silk, etc. #10 crochet cotton thread recommended), ½ -¾” D-rings*
Finished size: approximately ¾”-1” wide and 26-30” long. Iris should be 32-36” long and do not have
D-rings. Star of Merit and Centurion ribbons include an Ansteorran on the edge opposite the D-rings, and the Golden Lance has a golden lance on the edge opposite the D-rings. 2 D-Rings should be threaded through a raw edge, turn the edge under, and stitch down. Attach D-rings on the front side
of the ribbon so that when they are tied on, the front faces out.
Iris of Merit: equal parts of each color, divided by black or gold threads.
Potential pattern: with size #10 crochet cotton, you can get the right size/proportions by using
8/24/8. For example, 8 black, 24 gold, 8 black will create a Star of Merit.
For the Iris, It’s suggested you use 2/8 for each color, so 2 black (or gold), 8 red, 2 black, 8 orange, 2
black, 8 yellow, 2 black, etc.
Star of Merit and Iris of Merit are of highest need based on frequency, with Centurion and Arc d’Or
being of moderate need. Golden Lance is currently not given out frequently.
Medallions:
Sable Thistle
Sable Talon
Sable Comet
Sable Crane
Compass Rose
Rising Star
Aquila Aurea
Lyra Aurea
Lilium Aureum
Order of the Laurel
Order of the Pelican
Order of Defense
Materials: black and/or gold cording (ribbon, leather, finger loop, etc.) for medallions; pin backs
Medallion or pin can be cast, engraved, or painted on or carved in wood, ceramic, leather, or metal.
Fieldless can be on any background, light (white/gold) suggested to provide good contrast for badge.
Finished medallion/pin: 1-2” wide, use your best judgment. When making these insignia, make sure
to double-check the badges. The Sable Thistle, for example, is not the same as a Scottish thistle (tuft
on top) and the Sable Comet should be pointed to the right.
Medallion awards are the most needed insignia of the bunch, especially Sable Thistle, Sable Comet,
and Sable Crane. Also of high need are the Rising Star, Aquila Aurea, Lyra Aurea, and Lilium
Aureum. Sable Talon is of moderate need, and Compass Rose need is low. Usually the Peerage
medallions are commissioned specifically for the recipient, so there is little need to have these on
hand. Keep in mind, if you are commissioned to create one of these to refer to the badge. The Order
of Defense insignia: there have been many medallions made in other kingdoms with the blades
crossed in the wrong location – they should be crossed at the tips, not mid-blade. Because this is a
new order, we are hoping to keep some of these medallions on hand until they are more widely
available, and tradition is able to take over.
Award of Arms
Materials: 18 or 22 gauge metal (18 is the thickest option, 22 is thinner), Leather cording. Inches
conversion to buy metal at the hardware store: 18g (0.040 in), 20g (0.032 in), 22g (0.025)
Width: ¼- ½ in.; Length 20 in.
Metal Finishing: For both, default length should be approximately 20”, with an opening in the back.
For AoA fillets, drill 1 hole per side, file the holes to remove burrs and use a thick cord, leather
preferred, to tie it together, leaving a gap between 1-2 inches. Round the edges of the metal to avoid
injury.
The AoA fillets are not official registered/reserved insignia. This means that, at this time, anyone can
wear a fillet of ½ inch or less (any larger intrudes on the Baronial Coronet). It has become tradition
that the crown awards upon the receipt of an AoA. That being said, these are the most frequently
awarded and needed insignia by the Crown. It may also be possible to make these from other
materials, such as stiffened leather.
Arc d’Or
Materials: white material (leather, cloth, wood), leather cording
Construction: There is no requirement for the material the bracer is made out of, and they are a
varied piece of equipment. Historically they have been made from bone, wood or leather. Some are
very small in surface area where others have covered the arm completely. So it really comes down to
personal taste on what the wearer wants. That being said, you may refer to the attached pattern as a
template. The Ansteorran star can be tooled, painted, or appliqued onto the bracer.
Usually this is a pass-down item by other members of the order. There will be times where there will
be need to replace insignia that has become a pass-down piece.
Order of the White Scarf
Materials: white cloth, approximately 36+in x 6-8in
Suggested materials: silk, linen, cotton
Scarf should be long enough for the recipient to tie around his/her arm or pin across their shoulder.
This is usually commissioned for the recipient, so there is little need to create these to have on hand.
Centurion Cloak
Materials: red, yellow and black fabric (linen, cotton)
Construction: Applique badge design onto red cloak. Cloaks vary in size and shape, depending on
the recipient, and may be customized to the recipient’s persona. They may vary from circular cloaks
(see Master of Defense cloak below) to Templar cloaks. Often these cloaks are trimmed and/or tied in
gold. By tradition, these are usually passed down from one Centurion to another.
Because this is a pass-down item by other members of the order, there will be times where there will
be need to replace it.
Order of Defense Collar
Materials: white leather, metal fittings including belt tips/chape for the ends and a ring or trefoil to
bind the two ends together (and hang a medallion of the badge, should the recipient choose to do so).
Please see attached pattern.
The premier collars were made of 4-5oz white leather, with belt tip fittings and a trefoil to bind the
collar together and hold the medallion.
Usually items for Peerages are commissioned for the recipient prior to their elevation. Because this is
a new order, we are hoping to keep some on hand until patterns are more widely available, and
tradition is able to take over.
Order of Defense Cloak
Materials: white and gray cloth for body (2.25yds each, linen), embroidery or appliqué for badge,
White cording (60in), add beading, trim (2.5yds cloak sides, collar), etc. as desired.
Premier cloaks were constructed using medium weight true White and medium grey 100% linen,
8x5mm hematite beads, 4mm glass pearl beads, and 9mm velvet dark grey ribbon. Embroidered
patch was 8” with silver, gold and black embroidery.
Construction: The cloaks are half circle cloaks with a standing collar and a cloak radius of 35in. 1/2
inch grey velvet trim was used to trim the side edges of the white linen, with beading in hematite
pearls and gold beads decorating the outside of the collar. 30in. cording was added at the edges of
the collar to tie the cloak together under the arm. The badge of the order is embroidered on a linen
circle and couched over the heart with hematite beads serving as a border around the circle. Cloaks
may be customized to the recipient’s persona.
As this is Peerage regalia, we expect that most cloaks will be commissioned specifically for the
recipient prior to elevation. However, because this is a new order, we are hoping to keep some on
hand until patterns are more widely available, and tradition is able to take over.
Coronets
Materials: The materials for this can vary greatly. One suggestion is to consider 18-22 gauge metal
(18 is the thickest option, 22 is thinnest), Leather cording.
Inches conversion to buy metal at the hardware store: 18g (0.040 in), 20g (0.032 in), 22g (0.025)
Width: no restrictions, however suggested height is 1in. to 1.5in.
Metal Finishing: For both, default length should be approximately 20”, with an opening in the back.
For Court Barony Coronets, drill 3-4 holes, file the holes to remove burrs and use a thick cord, leather
preferred, to tie it together, leaving a gap between 1-2 inches. Round the edges of the metal to avoid
injury.
Court barony coronets are often, but not always, commissioned for the recipient, so it is helpful to
have generic extras on hand. They are traditionally made of metal, but they could also be made of
leather or from a woven band, or some other material of the recipient’s choice.
Special Note: All fillets and coronets are subject to kingdom sumptuary law, located in Article X of
Kingdom Law: http://seneschal.ansteorra.org/forms/Kingdom_Law.pdf
Ducal and Comital Coronets, Territorial Baronial Coronets
These are always commissioned by or for the recipient, so there is no need to have extras on hand.
