An heraldic primer - part 6

Placing the charges on the field requires an understanding of the segments on the field and we need to remind ourselves that the descriptions are presented from the perspective of the wearer.

A = dexter chief	D = dexter	G = dexter base
B = centre chief	E = heart or centre	H = centre base
C = sinister chief	F = sinister	I = sinister base
1 = honour point	2 = nombril point or navel point

The placement of multiple charges takes the same names as previously detailed in the section relating to Ordinaries and thus the illustrations of diamonds (lozenges) shown in fess, in pale, in chief.

Sometimes the charge covers the whole field in a regular pattern and this formation is known as semé (sometimes powdered). The teardrop shape takes its name according to its colour and thus red (gules) teardrops represent blood and blue (azure) ones are tears.


L-R: semé de lis, gutté de larmes (tears; azure); gutté de sang (blood; gules)


Now to describe the arms using the basic language and understanding which at this early stage rather limits us! Examine how the following shield and its blazon is built up…

Step	Description with example	Image	Language
1	Describe the background of the shield (field) partitions (if any) followed by colours—a plain blue field:		azure
2	Describe the principal charge on the field followed by its colour—a silver lion in the passant (walking with dexter foreleg raised) pose:		a lion passant argent
3	Describe charges on principal charge—the lion is wearing a duke’s coronet on its head:		ducally coronetted
4	Describe lesser charges and their locations on the field—a silver star is located at the foot of the field:		and in base a mullet argent
5	Describe charges on Ordinaries—none	—	—

Hence: Arms: Azure a lion passant argent ducally coroneted and in base a mullet argent.

The heraldic artist may interpret the forms of creatures. If you are ever in the SA Genealogy & Heraldry Society’s library, look at the kangaroo pictured on the grant of arms and then compare it with the version used daily by the Society.

In the final issue we will see how visitations—an early effort to regularise English heraldry can help our research.

Graham Jaunay BA DipT MACE AAGRA

Originally published as a series in, Relative Thoughts, Fleurieu Peninsula Family History Group