A coat of arms includes shield, helm, crest, wreath, mantling, supporters, compartment, motto, and sometimes a crown, badge, or order.
If you’ve ever stared at a grand heraldic panel and wondered, “what are the items on the coat of arms?” you’re in the right place. This guide names every standard part, shows where each piece sits, and explains what it does. You’ll also see how different countries treat extras like crowns, collars of orders, and badges. By the end, you’ll be able to point at any armorial display and call out each element with confidence.
What Are The Items On The Coat Of Arms? Explained
A complete display is called an “achievement.” The shield is the heart. Around it sit elements that signal lineage, rank, and honors. Not every design uses every part; grants and local rules set the limits. Below is a quick map you can scan before the deeper tour.
| Item | What It Is | Where It Sits |
|---|---|---|
| Shield (Escutcheon) | The main field with colors, lines, and charges | Center of the display |
| Helm (Helmet) | Style hints at rank or period; supports the crest | Above the shield |
| Crest | A figure or device standing on the wreath or cap | On top of the helm |
| Wreath (Torse) / Cap | Twisted band (or cap of maintenance) under the crest | Between crest and helm |
| Mantling | Flowing cloth strips, usually in two tinctures | From the helm around the shield |
| Supporters | Figures that hold or flank the shield when granted | Left and right of the shield |
| Compartment | Ground or base where supporters stand | Beneath the shield |
| Motto (Scroll) | Short phrase on a ribbon or scroll | Often below the shield; sometimes above |
| Crown/Coronet | Rank mark, placed with or above the helm | Above or around the helm/shield |
| Orders/Collars | Insignia of knightly orders hung around the shield | Encircling the shield |
| Badge/Banner | Related emblem or flag tied to the same grant | Shown near the achievement when needed |
Items On A Coat Of Arms — Names And Positions
Let’s walk the display from center to top, then to the sides and base. I’ll note common rules and typical design choices along the way.
Shield: Field, Divisions, And Charges
The shield carries the full design: colors, metals, furs, and line types. Divisions split the field into parts (per pale, per fess, quarterly, and so on). Charges are the figures on the field: beasts, tools, stars, crosses, geometric ordinaries. Everything else in the achievement exists to support or decorate this core.
Helm: Style And Rank Cues
The helmet sits directly above the shield. Its form can hint at social rank or period in some systems. Open barred helms often mark higher standing; closed visors suggest lower ranks in traditions that use such cues. The helm anchors the crest assembly.
Wreath (Torse) Or Cap Of Maintenance
The wreath is a twisted band in two colors, commonly taken from the main livery colors. It sits between the helm and the crest. Some grants use a cap of maintenance instead. The cap is a special honor in certain realms and replaces the usual band under the crest.
Crest: The Figure Above The Helm
The crest is a three-dimensional figure set on the wreath or cap. Lions, wings, hands holding tools, crowns sprouting plants—crests vary widely. The crest often echoes ideas from the shield but is a distinct device in its own right. It helps identify the armiger in settings where the shield might be hidden or simplified.
Mantling: Cloth That Frames The Arms
Mantling flows from the helm around the shield. It’s usually shown in two tinctures—often the main color and metal from the shield. In art it can look shredded or leafy. Mantling adds motion and gives contrast that helps the shield read at a glance.
Supporters: Granted Figures At The Sides
Supporters are creatures or people that flank the shield. They appear only when granted by right. Lions, stags, gryphons, mermaids, raven-bears in Canada—each tells a story tied to place, service, or heritage. Many personal arms don’t include supporters; corporate, civic, or high-honor grants often do.
Compartment: The Ground Below
The compartment is the base the shield and supporters stand on. It can be simple ground or a named feature such as a rock outcrop, waves, or turf with plants. In Canadian practice, the compartment often carries regional flora, landforms, or emblems tied to the grant.
Motto: Words On A Scroll
The motto runs on a scroll beneath the shield, or less often above it. Language and tone vary by tradition. Many mottos are in Latin or a local language and speak to duty, faith, craft, or place. Families sometimes change mottos over time; the shield design is the constant piece.
Crowns And Coronets
Where rank is recognized, a crown or coronet may sit above the helm or be shown around the shield. The form signals rank and varies by realm. Some systems avoid rank marks; others keep precise patterns for each level. In civic arms you may see mural crowns or naval crowns that speak to a town’s status or service.
Orders, Collars, And Decorations
Holders of knighthoods or orders may show the collar or badge of the order encircling the shield. The collar is not part of the shield design; it’s an additament that notes honors. Placement and eligibility follow the rules of the issuing order.
Badges, Banners, And Flags
Badges are related emblems that can be worn or used on property and livery. Banners display the shield design on a rectangular or square flag. Both sit outside the main achievement but are tied to the same grant.
How To Read Any Achievement At A Glance
Start at the center with the shield. Name the field, divisions, and major charges. Move upward: helm, wreath or cap, crest, mantling. Scan the sides for supporters. Look down for the compartment and motto. Then note any crown, coronet, or collar around the shield. With this route you can label what you see in seconds.
Common Questions About Parts And Eligibility
Do All Arms Have Supporters?
No. Supporters are granted by right. Many personal grants do not include them. Civic bodies and those with higher rank or special service are more likely to receive them.
Can The Crest Be Used Alone?
Yes, in many settings. The crest can appear on letterheads, seals, rings, and helmets in art. That said, a crest is not the same as the shield. Calling the whole design a “crest” is common speech, but in heraldry the crest is just the figure above the helm.
What Does The Mantling Color Mean?
Mantling usually follows the main livery pair from the shield. That keeps the palette tight and legible. Some grants use special treatments tied to national or local style.
Authority Rules And Regional Notes
Each realm has an office that grants and records arms. Practice lines up on core ideas—shield, crest, helm, mantling—yet details shift by country. That’s why looking at the issuing authority’s guidance matters when you commission art or plan display.
For a compact overview of the full display, see the achievement entry. For a practical walk-through of parts and their names, the components of arms guide lays out shield, helm, crest, mantling, supporters, motto, and more.
United Kingdom
In England, arms are granted and recorded by the College of Arms; in Scotland by the Court of the Lord Lyon. Crowns, coronets, and supporters follow set patterns. Many corporate and civic arms carry supporters and a mural crown for towns or cities.
Canada
Canada grants arms through the Canadian Heraldic Authority. Supporters, badges, and compartments often include plants, animals, and landforms from the region. Modern grants may blend Indigenous symbols with classic armorial structure while keeping shield, crest, and helm as the base.
Military And Public Bodies
Military units and public agencies also hold arms, badges, and flags. These grants follow the same visual grammar, with extra care for clear line art that reproduces well on uniforms, vehicles, and signage.
Design Choices That Keep Arms Readable
Great arms read at a glance. Artists pick bold shapes and limited palettes, keep charges large enough, and avoid clutter. On the crest, one striking figure beats a pile of tiny objects. Mantling frames the whole and points the eye back to the shield. Supporters and compartment add story without stealing the show.
Blazon And Plain Language
Every grant includes a blazon, the formal one-sentence description that defines the shield and any extra parts. The blazon is the legal core; artists then render that text into paint, vector, or stone. A plain-English note can sit alongside the blazon for outreach, but the blazon is the binding version.
Optional Additions And Regional Variants
| Item | Where Common | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Supporters | UK, Canada, many Commonwealth grants | Granted by right; often civic or high honor |
| Compartment | Canada; also used in UK civic arms | Floral or geographic motifs under the shield |
| Collar Of An Order | Monarchies and chivalric orders | Encircles shield; shows membership or rank |
| Crown/Coronet | Realms with rank marks | Style signals level; civic mural crowns too |
| Badge | UK, Canada, Ireland | Used on property and livery; linked to arms |
| Banner/Flag | Many realms | Displays the shield on cloth; square or rectangular |
| War-Cry/Slogan | Historic Scottish and Irish usage | Short cry placed above the crest in some arms |
Care, Display, and Common Mistakes
Calling Everything A “Crest”
In daily speech people say “crest” when they mean the whole design. In heraldry the crest is just the figure on top of the helm. The shield is the core, and the rest is the achievement around it.
Mixing Colors And Metals Poorly
Traditional palettes pair colors with metals to keep contrast strong. Artists keep line art crisp and avoid tiny outlines that vanish when scaled down. Simpler shapes and bold charges read best across print and screen.
Leaving Out The Helm Or Wreath
Crests do not float. A proper crest sits on a wreath or cap, which sits on a helm. This stack keeps the look grounded and true to the craft.
Where To Learn The Rules Before You Commission Art
If you plan to seek a grant or refresh artwork, start with the public guidance from recognized authorities. You’ll find clear primers on parts and display, and you’ll avoid common slip-ups with supporters, mottos, and rank marks.
Putting It All Together
So, what are the items on the coat of arms? The shield carries the design; the helm, wreath or cap, and crest form the tower above it; mantling frames the scene; supporters, a compartment, and a motto finish the base; crowns, orders, badges, and flags add honors when allowed. That set will let you read any achievement with clarity and explain each piece to others.