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Scottish Clan Pinsels

About Clan Insignia

PINSEL (p. 489): a small triangular flag granted by the Lord Lyon only to chiefs or very special chieftain-barons for practical use to denote a person to whom the chief has delegated authority to act in his absence on a particular occasion. The flag is 4 feet 6 inches long by 2 feet high, with a background of the main livery colour of the chief's arms. On it is depicted his crest within a strap and buckle bearing the motto and outside the strap and buckle a circlet inscribed with his title. On top of the circlet is set his coronet of rank or baronial chapeau if any. In the fly is shown the plant badge and a scroll with his slogan or motto. See also descriptions of clan pinsels.
Source: Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, located by Randy Young

Description of Clan Pinsels

The following descriptions of Scottish clan standards are based on the book "Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia." See also descriptions of clan banners.
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

ANSTRUTHER
Argent, displaying the Crest [Two arms in armour holding a pole-axe with both hands gauntleted Proper] upon a Wreath of the Liveries Sable and Argent, surrounded by a strap Sable buckled and embellished Or inscribed with the Motto 'Periissem ni periissem' [I would have perished had I not persisted] in letters Or all within a circlet Or fimbriated Vert bearing the name and style 'Anstruther of that Ilk' in letters Sable, the same ensigned of a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, and in the fly on an Escrol Sable surmounting a sprig of olive slipped and leaved Proper the Slogan 'Castle Dreel' in letters Argent. (pp.66-67)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

BARCLAY
Or, displaying the Crest [(on a chapeau Azure doubled Ermine) A hand holding a dagger Proper] within a strap Azure, inscribed in letters Or with the Motto 'Aut agere aut mori' [Either to do or die] all within a circlet Or, fimbriated Azure, ensigned of a chapeau Azure furred Ermine, inscribed with the title 'Barclay of that Ilk' in letters Azure, and in the fly an Escrol Azure bearing in letters Or this slogan 'Towie Barclay' surmounting a stem of mayflower Proper. (pp.72-73)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

BORTHWICK
Argent, on a Wreath of the Liveries [Argent and Sable] a moor's head couped Proper wreathed Argent and Sable within a strap Sable buckled and embellished Or inscribed with this Motto 'Qui conducit' [He who leads] in letters of the Field and all within a circlet Or fimbriated Gules bearing the title 'Borthwick, Lord Borthwick' in letters Sable, the same ensigned of a Baron's coronet, and in the fly on an Escrol Sable surmounting a stem of two roses Gules leaved, barbed and seeded Vert this Slogan 'A Borthwick' in letters of the Field. (pp.74-75)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

BRUCE
Argent, upon a Wreath Or and Gules the Crest [A lion statant Azure armed and langued Gules], within a strap of leather Proper buckled and embellished Or inscribed with the Motto 'FUIMUS' [We have been] in letters Argent, all within a circlet Or fimbriated Vert bearing the title 'Bruce, Earl of Elgin and Kincardine' in letters Gules, the circlet ensigned of an Earl's coronet Proper, and in the fly an Escrol Gules surmounting a sprig of Rosemary Proper, bearing the slogan 'Fuimus' in letters Argent. (pp.82-83)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

BUCHAN
Argent, a sun shining upon a sunflower full blown Or upon a Wreath Argent and Sable surrounded by a strap Sable, buckled and embellished Or, inscribed with the Motto 'Non inferiora secutus' [Not having followed mean pursuits] in letters Or, all within a circlet also Or, fimbriated Vert, bearing the name and style of 'Buchan of Auchmacoy' in letters Sable, the same ensigned of a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, and in the fly on an Escrol Sable surmounting a sunflower Proper, this Slogan 'Auchmacoy' in letters Argent. (pp.84-85)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

BURNETT
Argent, bearing upon a Wreath of the Liveries [Argent and Vert] a cubit arm, the hand naked, vested Vert doubled Argent, pruning a vinetree with a pruning knife Proper within a strap Vert bucked and embellished Or inscribed of this Motto 'Virescit vulnere virtus' [Her virtue flourishes by her wounds] in letters Or, all within a circlet also Or, fimbriated Vert, bearing the name and style 'Burnett of Leys' in letters Sable, the same ensigned of a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, and in the fly a sprig of holly leaves Proper. (pp.86-87)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

CAMPBELL
Sable, a boar's head erased Or, armed Argent, langued Gules, upon a Wreath Or and Sable, surrounded by a strap Sable, buckled and embellished Or, inscribed with this Motto 'Ne obliviscaris' [Do not forget] in letters Or, all within a circlet also Or bearing the title 'Mac-Cailein-Mor' in letters of the Field, the same ensigned of a Duke's Coronet, and in the fly on an Escrol Or surmounting a sprig of bog myrtle Proper this slogan 'Cruachan' in letters of the Field. (pp.90-93)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

CHISHOLM
Gules, bearing upon a Wreath of the Liveries [Or and Gules] the Crest [A dexter hand holding a dagger erect Proper, the point thereof transfixing a boar's head erased Or] within a circlet Or, inscribed with the words 'Chisholm of Chisholm' in letters Azure and ensigned with a chapeau Gules furred Ermine tasselled Or, and accompanied by an Escrol also Or, charged with the Motto 'Feros ferio' [I am fierce with the fierce] and interlaced with ferns Vert. (pp.104-105)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

COLQUHOUN
Argent, bearing upon a Wreath of the Liveries [Argent and Sable] the Crest [A hart's head couped Gules, attired Argent] within a strap Sable, buckled and embellished Argent, inscribed with the Motto 'Si je puis' [If I can] in letters of the Last, all within a circlet Or fimbriated Vert bearing the title 'Colquhoun of Luss' in letters of the Second and in an Escrol Sable surmounting a sprig of hazel slipped Proper, fructed Or, the Slogan 'Cnoc Ealachain' in letters Argent. (pp.108-109)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

CRANSTOUN
Argent, bearing upon a Wreath of the Liveries Gules and Argent the said Crest [A crane Proper dormant holding a stone in her claw] within a strap of leather Proper buckled and embellished Or inscribed with this Motto 'Though shalt want ere I want' in letters Or, all within a circlet Or fimbriated Vert bearing the title 'Cranstoun of that Ilk' in letters Gules and in the fly an Escrol Sable surmounting a bunch of strawberries Proper bearing this Slogan 'Corehouse' in letters Or. (pp.112-113)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

DRUMMOND
Gules, bearing upon a Crest coronet of four (three visible) strawberry leaves Or the above Crest [A goshawk, wings displayed Proper, armed and belled Or, jessed Gules] within a strap of cuir brunatre buckled and embellished Or, inscribed with this Motto 'Virtutem coronat honos' [Honour crowns virtue] in letters of the Field, all within a circlet also Or, bearing this title 'An Drumenach Mor' in letters also of the Field, the same ensigned with an Earl's coronet, and in an Escrol Or surmounting a leaf of holly Proper this slogan 'Gang warily' in letters of the Field. (pp.120-121)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005

ERSKINE
Sable, upon a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, a dexter hand holding a skene in pale Argent, hilted and pommelled Or, within a belt Gules, buckled and furnished Or with this Motto 'Je pense plus' [I think more] in letters Argent within a circlet Or ensigned of an Earl's coronet, bearing the title 'Earl of Mar and Kellie' in letters Sable and in the fly, a spray of roses Gules, barbed and leaved Vert, seeded Sable, surmounted of an Escrol Argent bearing this Motto 'Unione fortior' [Stronger through unity] in letters Sable. (pp.132-133)
Randy Young, 4 February 2005