Book Of Traceable Heraldic Art

Volume O: Escutcheon Outlines

Combined PDF file (52 pages; 227KB)

Cover Page §

Device Outline §

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

Square Field §

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

Lozenge Field §

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

Circular Field §

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

Oval Field §

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

Heart Field (1) §

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Heart shapes were occasionally used to diplay armory.

Heart Field (2) §

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Heart shapes were occasionally used to diplay armory.

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

Roman Scutum §

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

Kite Outline (1) §

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

Kite Outline (2) §

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

Kite Outline (3) §

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

Truncated Kite §

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

Triangular Shield (1) §

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

Triangular Shield (2) §

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

Heater Shield (1) §

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

Heater Shield (2) §

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

Heater Shield (3) §

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

Almond Shield §

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

Iberian U-Shaped Shield §

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

German U-Shaped Shield §

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

Tilting Shield §

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

Tilting Shield 2 §

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

Tilting Shield 3 §

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

Italian Tilting Shield §

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

Renaissance Shield §

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

Foliate Renaissance Shield §

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

Polish Renaissance Shield §

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

German Renaissance Shield §

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

Spanish Renaissance (1) §

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

Italian Renaissance §

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

Horsehead Shield §

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

German Tournament §

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

English Tournament §

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

Embowed Heater (1) §

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

Embowed Heater (2) §

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

Artist: Ajir Tsagaan.

Moorish Adarga §

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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.)

Spanish Adarga §

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

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

Italian Adarga §

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

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

Nguni Shield §

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An oval shield with pointed ends found throughout southern Africa.

Square English §

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

Late-Period English §

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

Engrailed English §

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

English Scrollwork §

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

Pentagonal English §

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An extra-wide shield.

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

Engrailed Heater (1) §

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

Engrailed Heater (2) §

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

Octagon Ployé §

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

Federal Shield §

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