Individual Parts Of A Coat Of Arms - Shield

The single most important part of any armorial achievement (coat of arms) is the shield or escutcheon. On it are the the charges, colors and divisions that allow you to uniquely identify the arms. Everything else, quite frankly, is fluff. You will find arms with every conceivable combination of helmets, mantling, supporters and crests, yet you will never find arms without a shield.

Let's start with the shape. There is no law, even in the countries that govern arms quite strictly, as to the shape of the shield. It is a matter of artistic interpretation and usually follows the design of the time period in which it is created. There are many shapes, and the current convention seems to be a return to earlier times and more traditional shapes as opposed to the overly (in my opinion) ornate shields of the Victorian era and into the early 19th century. But at the end of the day, it is the person commissioning the arms, at least in the United States, that should have the greatest say in what shape an escutcheon takes.

Shields up to the early late 12th century were often as tall as a man and shaped that way, that is, tall and skinny. At the beginning of the 13th century, the shields started to look more like the shields on which modern arms are emblazoned. By the 15th century you started to see jousting shields more often used, some with the lance rest on the dexter side. Starting in the 18th century, right up until the 19th century, they got more and more frilly to the point I would love to just erase them all. But that would be wrong of course. They are attached to the prevailing design ideals of their time.

Next time we'll discuss how a shield can be divided and colored. Until then...

Yours In Arms,

Michael Richards
Executive Director - AssumeArms.com