The shield has always been the principal object for the display of armorial bearings, whether in war or tournament, or on seals and monuments. It has thus become closely associated with heraldry, and to this day, centuries after it ceased to be used as a means of defence, the shield continues as the figure on which arms usually appear.
The shield admits of various forms (see Shield Types), and is divided into nine integral parts ot mark the position of the charges on the shield. The nine points are: A (Dexter Chief), B (Middle Chief), C (Sinister Chief), D (Honour Point), E (Fess Point>, F (Nombril Point), G (Middle Base), H (Dexter Base).
The shield may be divided by straight lines described by specific heraldic terminology. Such fields are termed party or parted. These divisions are made to create different fields on the shield for displaying different charges. The eight most common divisions are illustrated below:
Other Divisions
Other Divisions
Lines used in dividing the shield or outlining objects placed upon it are not always straight and may take various forms, some of which are:
The Shield is distinguished by certian heraldic colors called tinctures, separated by division lines (see above), and charged with a variety of animals (real or fabulous), instruments, and other objects, which themselves bear the designation of charges.
Tinctures: comprise of two metals, five colors (orange and reddish purple are not shown or counted her) and various furs.
Colors & Metals: can also be shown in black & white by hatching.
| Gold |
Silver |
Blue |
Red |
Black |
Green |
Purple |
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| Or |
Argent |
Azure |
Gules |
Sable |
Vert |
Purpure |
As a general rule, a color may not be placed upon a color nor a metal upon a metal.
Furs:
- Ermine - white field with black spots
- Ermines - a black field with white spots
- Erminois - a gold field with black spots
- Pean - a black field with gold spots
- Vair - silver & blue bells or cups cut to resemble the flower of the campanula
- Counter Vair - the bells or cups are arranged base against base, and point against point.
Charges: are devices placed upon the shield and fall into three groups: ordinaries, sub-ordinaries and common charges.
There are fourteen general ordinaries:
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| Pale |
Fess |
Chief |
Bend |
Cross |
Pile |
Chevron |
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| Saltire |
Pallets |
Bars |
Bendlets |
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| Chevronels |
Pale
Endorsed |
Fess
Cotised |
There are sixteen sub-ordinaries, some of which are:
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| Bordure |
Orle |
Fusil |
Mascle |
Lozenge |
Canton |
Inescutcheon |
Common charges comprise the last group and by far the largest. Any object, either animate or inanimate, might constitute a charge. The following links are examples of common charges:
Plate I,
Plate II,
Plate III,
Plate IV,
Plate V
Marks of cadency are also commonly seen on the shield.
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