Themes in heraldry

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THEMES IN HERALDRY

This page is the starting point to look for a coat of arms with a particular charge or shield division or to identify unknown arms. As not all arms on the site are categorised, I can not guarantee that an image can be found. If you can not find the image, you can also send a mail to see if I can help.

All themes added so far can be found at the Alphabetical list of all themes (over 2200 !) or start with the categories below !

this section is and will always be under construction as the number of charges is endless !

Divisions of the shield and geometrical patterns (ordinaries and subordinaries)

• Non divided (plain) shields

Some examples:

Red

Ermine

• Division of the shield This includes any form of horizontal, vertical or other division of the whole shield. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.

Some examples:

Per pale

Per bend

Quarterly

Free canton

Per saltire

Chiefs

Bases

• Bars, pales, bends etc This includes any pale (vertical), bar (horizontal) or bend (diagonal) in a shield or part thereof. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.

Some examples:

Bars

Pales

Bends

Barry

Paly

Bendy

Chequy

• Chevrons This includes any chevron (V-shape) in a shield or part thereof. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.

Some examples:

Chevrons

Inverted

Wavy

Chevronny

• Subordinaries This includes any geometrical charge in a shield or part thereof, such as circles (rings, balls), squares, diamonds, lozenges etc.

Some examples:

Rings

Bordures

Labels

Diamonds

• Crosses This includes any type of cross in the whole shield or part thereof. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.

Some examples:

Crosses

Saltires

Special crosses

Heraldic or phantasy creatures

The arms show a heraldic animal or creature (or a part thereof). This includes the well known heraldic animals, such as lions and eagles, mythological creatures, such as dragons, mermaids and phoenices, but also combined phantasy creatures (deer-fish, winged foxes etc). It also includes zodiac signs.

• For an overview of all heraldic or phantasy creatures, see here

Some examples:

Lions

Eagles

Griffins

Dragons

Mermaids etc

• For an overview of heraldic lilies (Fleur-de-lys), see Category:Fleur-de-lys

Living nature

The arms shows a natural human, plant or animal, or parts thereof

Animals (natural)

• For any species of mammals see the overview Mammals in heraldry
• For any species of marsupial see the overview Marsupials in heraldry
• For any species of birds see the overview Birds in heraldry
• For any species of fish see the overview Fish in heraldry
• For any species of shells (scallops), snails or other sea creatures see the overview Marine animals in heraldry (not mammals or fish)
• For any species of reptiles see the overview Reptiles in heraldry
• For any species of amphibians see the overview Amphibians in heraldry
• For any species of insects see the overview Insects in heraldry
• For any other animal species of mammals see the overview Other animals in heraldry
• For any extinct animal see the overview Fossils and extinct animals in heraldry

Humans

The arms shows humans of parts of humans

• For any undefined human or part of a human (hands, feet, heads), as well as 'peoples' see the overview Humans in heraldry
• For any non-religious named human see the overview Persons in heraldry
• For any Christian saint see the overview Saints in heraldry
• For any other religious figure (gods, monks, bishops, abbotts...), see the overview Religious themes in heraldry

For any undefined person showing a profession, see the categories below (f.e. farmers are under the category Agricultre)

Fungi and mushrooms

• For any species of fungi or mushrooms see the overview Mushrooms in heraldry

Plants

• For any species of plant, or parts thereof, see the overview Plants in heraldry
• For plants only displayed or used as foods, see also the overview Food in heraldry

Non-living nature

This includes all geological, meteorological or astronomical themes.

• For all astronomical topics (stars, moons, comets...) see the overview Astronomy in heraldry
• For all geological topics (volcanoes, mountains, crystals...) see the overview Geology in heraldry
• For all meteorological topics (snowflakes, rainbows ...) see the overview Meteorology in heraldry

Other categories in this section :

• Atoms
• Fire and flames

Other charges by category

• Agriculture and fisheries This includes any type of charge dealing with agriculture and fisheries, except the plants or animals which are listed separately. Agricultural buildings and parts thereof (such as granaries) are listed under buildings.

Some examples:

Flails

Harrows

Farmers

Horseshoes

• Buildings This includes any type of building, old or modern.

Some examples:

Bridges

Farms

Lighthouses

Windmills

Dolmens etc

• Science, education and learning This includes any type of charge dealing with teaching and education, including letters, books, pens, scrolls etc.

Some examples:

Closed books

Compasses

Letter M

Globes

Maps

• Food and cooking This includes any type of food not listed under Plants. It includes meats, bread, salt and and similar products. It also includes cooking utensils, such as forks, jugs, jars and kettles.

Some examples:

Cornucopia

Hams

Leeks

Cabbages

Kettles

• Industry, mining and tools This includes any type of charge dealing with small or large industry, ranging from spinning wheels to nuclear power symbols and chemical structures. Industrial buildings and parts thereof (such as wind mill blades) are listed under buildings. For agricultural and fisheries charges, see Agriculture.

Some examples:

Hammers

Roof tiles

Anvils

Oil pumps

Spindles

• Music and musical instruments This includes any type of instrument

Some examples:

Bagpipes

Guitars

Harps

Lyres

Organs and organ pipes

• Religious objects This includes anything to do with religion, God, Saints and their symbols, monks, churches, angels etc. of any (former) religion.

Some examples:

Saints

Adam and Eve

Monks

Lutheran rose

Venus

• Royalty This includes anything to do with royalty, such as crown, orbs, sceptres etc.

Some examples:

Crowns

Thrones

Orbs

Sceptres

• Sports This includes any sport-relates items or persons.

Some examples:

Golf

Tennis

Skis

Snowshoes

• Clothes This category includes any non-military type of clothes, such as shirts, gloves, hats, boots etc. For helmets, chain mail and military gloves, see Military

Some examples:

Buckles

Shoes

Cloaks

Wooden shoes

Belts

• Transport This includes any type of boat, car, train etc as well as parts thereof (wheels, oars).

Some examples:

Planes

Cars

Lymphads

Single wheels

Balloons

• Military This includes any type of military item.

Some examples:

Boomerangs

Crossbows

Swords

Sabres

Chain mail

• Archaeology This includes any type of human made object found in archaeological excavations, or prehistoric buildings and artefacts.

Some examples:

Dolmens

Urns

Carvings

Axes

• Other objects Any object not classified in any of the categories above (such as candles etc)

Some examples:

Clocks

Escarbuncles

Flags

Keys

Fasces