Sphere

Sphere

Sphere, (fr. sphére): the Terrestrial Sphere, or Globe, is rare in arms but not uncommon as part of a crest, e.g. of families of HOPE, DRAKE, &c. It is often environed with a meridian, and sometimes placed in a frame or stand. A remarkable example of late heraldic invention, and one of the worst, is seen in the arms of Sir John ROSS.

Similar to the sphere, but plain and(as a rule) surmounted by a cross, is the mound or Orb, q.v.

Azure, a sphere or--HARME, Surrey.

Azure, a pelican or, vulned proper, standing on a globe argent--John PIERSE, Bishop of Rochester, 1576; Salisbury, 1577; Archbishop of York, 1588-94.

Gules, three estoiles in chevron between as many lions rampant argent; [for augmentation] a chief or, thereon a portion of the terrestrial globe proper, the true meridian described thereon by a line passing from north to south sable, with the arctic circle azure; within which the place of the magnetic pole in latitude 70¡ëdeg;5¡Ã¬acute;17¡Ã­acute;¡Ã­acute;, and longitude 96¡ëdeg;46¡Ã¬acute;45¡Ã­acute;¡Ã­acute;west, designated by an inescutcheon gules, charged with a lion passant gardant of the first; the magnetic meridian shewn by line of the fourth passing through the inescutcheon with a correspondent circle, also gules, to denote more particularly the said place of the magnetic pole; the words following inscribed on the chief, viz., "Arctæos Numine Fines"--Sir John ROSS, C.B., Capt. R.N.

Azure, a globe, whereon are represented the Straits of Magellan and Cape Horn all proper; in the sinister chief point two herrings haurient in saltire argent crowned or; on a canton the united arms of Great Britain of the second--SOUTH SEA COMPANY, Established 1712.

Azure, a cross patty fitchy or; on a chief of the last three globes azure--ELDRED, Olavers, Stannaway, Essex.

Both the Armillary and Celestial sphere are named; the latter with a foot occurring in the crest of the Company of CLOCKMAKERS.

Gules, an armillary sphere or within an orle argent charged with eight mullets azure--CHAMBERLAIN, Baronetcy, 1828.

Upon helmet properly mantled gules, doubled argent, and wreath of three colours, a celestial sphere with a foot, or--Crest of the Company of CLOCKMAKERS.

On a wreath argent and gules, a cloud proper, thereon a celestial sphere azure, with the circles or; on the zodiac the signs Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer--The crest of BULL, Watchmaker to Queen Elizabeth.

A Hemisphere, or Demi-globe, occurs only as part of a crest.