The term star in heraldry may refer to any star-shaped heraldic bearing of any number of rays, which may appear straight or wavy, and may or may not be pierced. While there has been much confusion between the two due to their similar shape, a star with straight-sided rays is called a mullet while one with wavy rays is called an estoile.[1] While a mullet may have any number of points, it is presumed to have five unless otherwise specified in the blazon, and pierced mullets are common; estoiles, however, are presumed to have six rays and are never pierced.[1] In Scottish heraldry, an estoile is the same as in English heraldry, but a mullet refers only to a mullet pierced, while one that is not pierced is called a star.[1]
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Star, mullet and estoile
The term mullet or molet refers to a star with (usually five) straight sides, which may be used as a charge or as a mark of cadency. The term is said to be derived from French molette, a spur-rowel,[2] although it was in use in heraldry even before rowel spurs.[3] Mullets typically have five or six points, but may have any number of points specified in the blazon. If the number of points is not specified, five points are presumed in Gallo-British heraldry, and six points are presumed in German-Nordic heraldry. Unlike estoiles, mullets have straight (rather than wavy) rays and may have originally represented the rowel of a spur, rather than a celestial star.[2] Thus, the mullet in Scottish heraldry is always pierced. Mullets may also appear voided, and a semé of mullets is called "mullety". Under the system of cadency in use in England and Ireland since the late 15th century, the third son bears a mullet (unpierced) as a difference.[4]
American heraldry
Stars are nearly ubiquitous in United States heraldry and vexillology and nearly always appear unpierced with five straight-sided points. In the flag of the United States, each star represents one U.S. state.[5] The flag adopted in 1777 is the attributed origin of the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen colonies, appearing on the Great Seal since 1780.[6]
Notable and unusual uses
A mullet "barbed to chief" appears in the arms of the 240th Signal Battalion of the United States Army.[7]
Examples
 Mullet (English type) |
 Star (German type) |
 Mullet of six points pierced |
 Estoile |
References
- ^ a b c Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles; Graham Johnston (1909, 2004). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 295-296. ISBN 1417906308.
- ^ a b Volborth, Carl Alexander (1981). Heraldry: Customs, Rules and Styles. Poole, England: Blandford Press. p. 48. ISBN 0713709405.
- ^ "Mullet". Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry. 2008-03-12. http://www.luz-herald.net/free/pimbley/Pimbley%27s%20Dictionary%20of%20Heraldry%20-%20M.htm. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
- ^ Volborth, 1981. p. 80.
- ^ "Our Flag" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office. 1998. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_documents&docid=f:sd013.105.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "The Great Seal of the United States" (PDF). U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs. http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/27807.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "240th Signal Battalion". Department of the Army. 2004-10-27. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Sig/240th%20Signal%20Battalion.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
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