Themes in heraldry
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)
See the new file : Heraldic Glossary - Part 6 : Animals
Humans
See the new file : Heraldic Glossary - Part 7 : Humans - Part 7 : Humans
Fungi and mushrooms
See the new file : Heraldic Glossary - Part 8 : Plants
Plants
See the new file : Heraldic Glossary - Part 9 : Fungi, mushrooms and other living nature
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 :
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 |