esigning your
own armorial achievement can be complicated and the choices can sometimes be overwhelming.
We've created this step by step process to get you thinking about all the choices
that need to be made, and made in the correct order from a design perspective. It
is not really designed to create a Coat Of Arms so much as is to get you on the
same page as the designer. Remember, this is just a small sample of what is possible.
Anything you imagine can probably be produced by one of our designers. Because there
are a lot of steps, we have put them into panels so that you may collapse each step
as you go to save space. Just click any green header bar to toggle between open
and closed.
scutcheon shape
and angle are simply a matter of taste. Some people like a plain-edged Escutcheon
while other prefer notches at different areas. It is also common to tilt the shield
at a 45 degree angle. In modern heraldry there are as many styles as you can imagine.
Below is a picture of the most common shields and our names for them. We've also
listed a couple of the more modern ones to give you an idea of what is possible.
ivisions may be made to the shield if you want more than one color or if you want to break it up into more sections. You certainly do not have to divide your shield at all, so this section is optional. However, with no divisions, it does make it harder to come up with a unique shield as there are less options open to you. We have also included most of the Ordinaries here as well.
inctures in
heraldry come in four basic types: Colors (Black, Red, Blue, Green, & Purple);
Metals (Gold & Silver); Stains (Orange, Blood & Mulberry) and Furs (Ermine,
Ermines, Erminois, Pean, Papellone, Vair, Countervair, Potent, Counterpotent &
Plumete. For sake of simplicity, we are omitting the Furs here and just showing the tonal tinctures. There are also several additional colors that came into use in the latter part of the 18th century that are not widely used. Again, we can help you find exactly what you are looking for if you contact us.
harges are any object placed within the Armorial Achievement. To put it even more succinctly, they are anything at all that you can think of, e.g. lions, birds, bees and even modern day items like computers or cars. It is way beyond the scope of this site to show a picture of even the most common charges as there are an infinite number, but here are a few just to get you thinking. Generally speaking, you would want to pick some things that you associate with your life. Also, think long term. Try not to use trendy things or hobbies you are experimenting with. Like a tattoo, this is something that you should put a lot of thought into and not change it very often. It is your personal logo.
elm or Helmet selection is also optional. Quite frankly, anything except the escutcheon (shield) and its charges are optional. Traditionally, different types of helmets meant diffent things. But as we have no queens, squires or barrons, most of these distinctions mean nothing in American heraldry. So pick something that looks cool if you want to! Here are a few common helms.
ptions, options, options. These last few items are lumped together because they usually are just extra flourishes. Both the Torse (Wreath) and the Mantling (Lambrequin) are usually done in the primary colors you have already chosen. The Compartment is basically a mound of dirt or grass (so not much to choose from here) that the Supporters stand on. The Supporters are typically natural or mythical beasts or humans that look like they are holding up the Shield. It is also common to see wings and swords used as supporters. Our best advice is to go look around the web and elsewhere to see what others have done and then
Purchase Arms or
Contact Us when you are ready to have it put down for prosperity.