Shields

A shield, protective armour that has been used for thousands of years,
is also the primary component of a coat of arms. It often also stands
alone as its own armorial bearing.

The shield is a symbol of military warfare and is thus the appropriate
centre piece for an emblem borne out of the necessities of warfare.

The Historical Necessity of Heraldic Arms
Heraldic identifiers were necessary as early as soldiers wore
helmets to protect themselves, as they also concealed the
fighters’ features. Ancient Egyptians used a symbol, serekh,
which many historians consider to be the earliest heraldic emblem.

It identified the extent of power held by a particular regime. Romans, Greeks, Visigoths,

Merovingians, Anglo-Saxons and many other groups also used decorated shields and helms
to identify them as parts of groups. Bearings for the purposes of individual identification
did not come about until the twelfth century, corresponding with the immense popularity of the medieval tournament.

Shields: Shapes and Symbols
Shields, as a component of heraldic arms, can have various shapes and patterns.
Many of the shapes are designated by a coat of arms’s blazon. However, most often,
the shape of a shield is irrelevant in terms of the meaning of the coat of arms.

Their meaning comes more from the symbols, colours and patterns emblazoned on them.
Shields are often painted with animals, such as lions, bears or even ants; and also patterns called furs.
The most common furs are ermine and vair. These are also called tinctures, a name for colours,
furs and metals used in heraldry. One of heraldry’s primary rules is called the rule of tincture,
which stipulates that colours cannot be painted on colours and metals on metals so
to maintain clarity through contrast.

Shields: Variations and Significance
The shield’s field is often filled with variations, such as patterns of colours or stripes, for instance.
Shields can also be divided and thus have two separate tinctures. Originally shields featured bold shapes,
ones which could be seen clearly at far distances, so to propagate quick and easy identification of warriors.
Over time, shields became more complicated and fashions changed.

Today, shields come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. But they still represent martial prowess
and act as a reminder of the origin of heraldic arms. A reminder that you can spread by proudly
displaying your family crests, shields and coats of arms.

A Coat of Arms is sometimes also called a Family Shield, Family Seal or Family Crest.

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