Can anyone help with this crest?
 

This crest is on a wooden cyclinder which was owned by my in-laws. Doing some research, I've found the same crest on a number of antique items described as naval 'cordite carriers' or 'Clarkson cases' used for taking charges to naval guns - but in all the examples the crest is described as a 'Royal crest', which it patently is not.

The design shows some similarities to the arms of the city of Plymouth, although there the saltire cross is in green rather than red. Also the central badge being round rather than an escutcheon may suggest a ship's crest.

However, there are a number of inconsistencies that are beginning to make me suggest that the whole thing may just be a made-up decorative item rather than a genuine crest - there's no motto for example, and the 'unicorn' doesn't have a horn.

Is this crest familiar to anyone? Or can anyone confirm that it's not 'pukka'??

Thanks for any insights!

Richard

I have a vague recollection from several years ago of a number of 'powder carriers' appearing on the market and the general consensus seemed to be that they were modern imitations of historic artifacts. Not even made up to deceive, just a 'neat thing' for people to buy and research the story of if they felt so inclined.

I worked briefly in a store which sold to reenactors, everything from sewing patterns to muskets, and to the general public we sold a lot of repro. stuff. Very big for a while were brass compasses, map dividers and even sextants, copied from 19th century originals and made in India. Nobody I know was fooled, but I not infrequently see them advertised in garage sales as 'antique'. For what it's worth! ;)

Self deleted.

Found a few other examples of the same crest but none properly identify it.

http://ancientpoint.com/inf/143832-a...ane_stand.html

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/sto...e-water-bucket

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27464478606...IAAOSwaShf~PUd


.

Same crest on a leather 'fire bucket'.

https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antiq...cket/as706a390

And on a "19th Century Naval Oak Fire Bucket With Royal Crest".

https://www.pamono.eu/19th-century-n...th-royal-crest


.

Thanks all - yes we've found a number of instances of the crest being used, but nothing that identifies it except vaguely as a 'Royal crest'!

I would say its a ficticious crest applied in large numbers to 'antique' leather and wood items, which are clearly of modern manufacture.

regards

A rough description would be :-

Argent, a saltire Gules, cantoned of four towers sable.

...nothing comes up on a search. The shield would normally dictate the era but being round like that is a bit of a mystery? Also, Argent (silver) and Or (Gold) Mantle is an odd combination... metals combination normally associated with the Pope?

My guess is a manufacturers logo (Northern Irish?).

Thanks all for the suggestions and insights - I'm pretty sure now that it's a 'fake' crest that someone's made up. Not sure of the age though - some of the pieces online look to be a good few decades old, and the one we have must be at least 30-40 years.

It's actually quite sophisticated for a fake!