Volume O: Escutcheon Outlines

Devices are generally submitted on a standard shield outline, known as an escutcheon.

Badges are submitted on a square outline, even if they are fieldless.

Devices may be submitted on a lozenge, a less-martial alternative to the shield outline.

Badges are often displayed on a circle, called a roundel.

Devices may be displayed an oval shape known as a cartouche.

Heart shapes were occasionally used to diplay armory.

Heart shapes were occasionally used to diplay armory.

Source: Armorial de Flandre et du Hainaut. Artist: Jacques Le Boucq.

Roman legionaries carried large rectangular shields with a domed central boss.

Tall shields with a round top and a long tapered point were typical in the 11th C..

Source: Adapted from the seal of Mathilde, wife of Philippe d'Alsace, count of Flanders, circa 1189.

Source: Bible of Stephen Harding (Dijon BM MS.14, folio 191r, circa 1109).

Later versions of the kite shield had their tops flattened, but retained the pronounced point.

Source: Adapted from the seal of Robert de Chartres, circa 1193.

Source: Adapted from the seal of Gautier de Chatéron, circa 1210.

Adapted from the seal of Gilles d'Aunay, circa 1245.

Adapted from the seal of Philippe III of France, circa 1285.

Adapted from the seal of Louis II d'Anjou, circa 1403.

Source: Manchester University Library Latin MS 28. Artist unknown.

The almond shape is a pinched oval characteristic of early Italian armorials.

In Spain and Portugal, arms were usually displayed on an escutcheon with a round base.

In German areas, the round base was sometimes combined with sloping sides.

Fifteenth-century arms might be shown on a shape suggestive of a tournament tilting shield.

Fifteenth-century arms might be shown on a shape suggestive of a tournament tilting shield.

Fifteenth-century arms might be shown on a shape suggestive of a tournament tilting shield.

This shield shape is found in Venete con le Loro Armi from the early sixteenth century. .

As time passed, the shapes used for escutcheons became progressively more ornate.

As time passed, the shapes used for escutcheons became progressively more ornate.

As time passed, the shapes used for escutcheons became progressively more ornate.

Source: Das Tücherbuch, 1555-1600 German (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ross.546)

This shield shape is found in "Armas de los Condes" from the early sixteenth century.

Source: Nobiliario de Armas de Valencia, Aragón y Cataluña. Artist unknown.

Source: Nobiliario de Armas de Valencia, Aragón y Cataluña. Artist unknown.

This shield shape is found in Stemme Veneziane from the mid-sixteenth century.

Italian Renaissance armorials sometimes used a testa di cavallo, or horse-head shield.

Germanic tournament shields often had fluted ridges and points around the edge.

This shield shape is found on the stall plate of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, circa 1440.

This escutcheon is based on a standard heater-shield shape but the top is arched up.

This escutcheon is based on a standard heater-shield shape but the top is arched up.

Artist: Ajir Tsagaan.

A rounded, two-lobed shape derived from Berber calvary shields.

Adapted from a photo of Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna's item HJRK C 195. (Grenada, circa 1490.)

A rounded, two-lobed shape derived from Berber calvary shields.

Adapted from the painting "Saint Vincent and Saint Valerius in Prision." (Spain, circa 1495.)

A rounded, two-lobed shape derived from Berber calvary shields.

Source: Cappugi 200. (Italy, eighteenth century.)

An oval shield with pointed ends found throughout southern Africa.

A wide shield with an expanded base allowed for marshaled arms to be displayed together.

A rectangular shield with small flared corners provided space for complex Tudor designs

The rounded notches in the upper edge of this shield are a late-period decelopment.

Source: Cusack's Freehand Ornament. (Plate 25.) Artist unknown.

An extra-wide shield.

Source: University of Victoria Ms. Brown.Eng.2. (Circa 1580)

The rounded notches in the upper edge of this shield are a late-period decelopment.

The curving peak on the upper edge of this shield may be a post-period affectation.

Devices may be displayed on a modified lozenge that has been expanded into an octagon.

This post-period shield shape is used the the U.S. government for highways and police.