Create Your Shield!!

SHAPE

Start with a shape.

Source: Heather Child (1965). Heraldic Design: a handbook for students. G. Bell and Son, London.

FIELD

The field (background) of the shield has a tincture: color, metal, or fur.

Colors of Heraldry Color Heraldic Term Red Gules Blue Azure Black Sable Green Vert Purple Purpure Blood red Sanguine Brown Tawny, tenne

Metals of Heraldry Gold (yellow) Or Silver (white) Argent

Furs of Heraldry Ermine Vair (squirrel)

DIVISIONS

The shield can be divided in a variety of ways. Sample divisions:

LINES

Divisions can be made in straight or other lines, including:

CHARGES

Any item placed upon the field of the shield is a “charge.” Examples include:

These are just a few examples! You can use anything: a crab, a fire truck, a pen and book, the sun. These images mean something: a bee represents industry and hard work, and a lion represents courage. Think about the qualities of yourself you want to share with everyone. What’s a good image to represent you? You can do some research to find out which images would be just right for you. ORDINARIES

This is a group of charges consisting of geometric shapes and stripes.

Examples include:

YOUR TURN!!

NOTE: These are only ideas. There is lots of information in books and online about heraldry. Use any resource to get ideas for your design.

Some examples:

This is Shakespeare’s shield! Queen of York (white rose and fleur de lis) Examples of Common Charges

Stag

Lion Passant Lion Rampant Unicorn Bee

Serpent Dragon

Rose

Dolphin Castle

Crown Eagle Fleur-de-lis Your turn! Create your own heraldic shield!