Almond Shield

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

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Circular Field

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

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Device Outline

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

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Embowed Heater (1)

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

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Embowed Heater (2)

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

Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Artist: Ajir Tsagaan.
Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Artist: Ajir Tsagaan.

English Scrollwork

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

English Tournament

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

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Engrailed English

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

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Engrailed Heater (1)

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

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Engrailed Heater (2)

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

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Federal Shield

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

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Foliate Renaissance Shield

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

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German Renaissance Shield

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

German Tournament

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

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German U-Shaped Shield

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

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Heart Field (1)

Heart shapes were occasionally used to diplay armory.

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Heart Field (2)

Heart shapes were occasionally used to diplay armory.

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

Heater Shield (1)

Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Adapted from the seal of Gilles d'Aunay, circa 1245. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.
Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Adapted from the seal of Gilles d'Aunay, circa 1245. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.

Heater Shield (2)

Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Adapted from the seal of Philippe III of France, circa 1285. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.
Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Adapted from the seal of Philippe III of France, circa 1285. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.

Heater Shield (3)

Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Adapted from the seal of Louis II d'Anjou, circa 1403. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.
Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Adapted from the seal of Louis II d'Anjou, circa 1403. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.

Heater Shield (4)

Source: Manchester University Library Latin MS 28. Artist: Unknown Illustrator.
Source: Manchester University Library Latin MS 28. Artist unknown.

Horsehead Shield

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

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Iberian U-Shaped Shield

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

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Italian Adarga

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

Source: Cappugi 200 (Italy, eighteenth century). Artist: Unknown Illustrator.
Source: Cappugi 200. (Italy, eighteenth century.) Artist unknown.

Italian Renaissance

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

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Italian Tilting Shield

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

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Kite Outline (1)

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

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Kite Outline (2)

Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Source:. Adapted from the seal of Mathilde, wife of Philippe d'Alsace, count of Flanders, circa 1189. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.
Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Source: Adapted from the seal of Mathilde, wife of Philippe d'Alsace, count of Flanders, circa 1189. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.

Kite Outline (3)

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

Late-Period English

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

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Lozenge Field

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

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Nguni Shield

An oval shield with pointed ends found throughout southern Africa.

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Octagon Ployé

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

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Oval Field

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

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Pentagonal English

An extra-wide shield.

Source: University of Victoria Ms. Brown.Eng.2 (Circa 1580). Artist: Unknown Illustrator.
Source: University of Victoria Ms. Brown.Eng.2. (Circa 1580) Artist unknown.

Polish Renaissance Shield

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

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Renaissance Shield

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

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Roman Scutum

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

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Spanish Renaissance (1)

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

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Spanish Renaissance (2)

Source: Nobiliario de Armas de Valencia, Aragón y Cataluña. Artist: Unknown Illustrator.
Source: Nobiliario de Armas de Valencia, Aragón y Cataluña. Artist unknown.

Spanish Renaissance (3)

Source: Nobiliario de Armas de Valencia, Aragón y Cataluña. Artist: Unknown Illustrator.
Source: Nobiliario de Armas de Valencia, Aragón y Cataluña. Artist unknown.

Square English

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

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Square Field

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

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Tilting Shield

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

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Tilting Shield 2

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

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Tilting Shield 3

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

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Triangular Shield (1)

Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Source:. Adapted from the seal of Robert de Chartres, circa 1193. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.
Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Source: Adapted from the seal of Robert de Chartres, circa 1193. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.

Triangular Shield (2)

Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Source:. Adapted from the seal of Gautier de Chatéron, circa 1210. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.
Source: Book of Traceable Heraldic Art. Source: Adapted from the seal of Gautier de Chatéron, circa 1210. Adapted by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin.

Truncated Kite

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

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