How to Blazon a Shield

To blazon a shield is to describe the coat of arms it bears. When you describe the coat of arms accurately, anyone with knowledge of heraldry can reproduce it. In addition to producing an accurate representation of a shield, learning to blazon can be an art form in itself. Your description can take on the qualities of poetry.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Learn heraldic language by getting a heraldic dictionary, or locating one online. The Modern Heraldry Company maintains a glossary of the basic terms you'll need to blazon a shield.
2. Study blazon examples to get an idea of how different writers approach this art. You can find examples online at such websites as the Modern Heraldry Company, or in books like "Practical Heraldry" and "Epitome of English Armory," by Charles Worthy.
3. Examine the shield you want to blazon. Identify its field (or sections) or overall background, its symbols, divisions and its overall geometric pattern. Note that all shields use all of these items.
4. Choose the best word for the field's main color. As you learn to blazon a shield, use the common word for the color, as well as any other descriptions you create. Look up the heraldic term later.
5. Describe the main division or charge on the shield. As you describe it, begin with the type of division or charge, and then include its color. If there are charges within it, or special characteristics of it, next name them preceded by their color.
6. Include any additional charges that appear on the field, describing their form first and then their color.
7. Revise your blazon to create a unified piece of writing that uses heraldic vocabulary. As long as it follows the conventions that allow others to understand it clearly, a blazon can be written in any style.

Tips & Warnings

• Blazon a shield from top to bottom and from right to left.
• Always place the name of the color after the charge you're describing.
• Group items of the same color together in your blazon whenever possible to reduce the repetition of color names.