A heraldic coat of arms includes the shield, crest on a helm with wreath and mantling, a motto, and sometimes supporters with a ground called the compartment.
Coats of arms look complex at first glance, but each piece has a clear job. This guide names every part, shows where it sits, and explains what it means in plain language. By the end, you’ll be able to point to any feature on an armorial display and call it by its proper name.
What Are The Parts Of The Coat Of Arms? Diagram Walkthrough
Heralds use the word “achievement” for the full display: shield, helmet, crest, wreath, mantling, motto, and the extras around the shield. The shield carries the actual arms—the colored shapes and figures called charges—while everything else supports how those arms are shown. Below, you’ll see each element in reading order from the top down.
| Part | Where It Sits | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Crest | Above the helmet | Quick visual tag tied to the shield |
| Wreath (Torse) | Between crest and helm | Twisted two-color band that binds the crest |
| Helmet (Helm) | On top of the shield | Supports crest and shows period or rank |
| Mantling | Flowing from the helm | Drapery framing the display |
| Shield (Escutcheon) | Center of the display | Holds fields, divisions, and charges |
| Motto | On a scroll | Short phrase that sums up meaning |
| Supporters | Flanking the shield | Figures that hold or guard the arms |
| Compartment | Below supporters and shield | Ground or base the supporters stand on |
| Badge/Orders | Near or around the shield | Extra devices or collars when entitled |
Parts Of A Coat Of Arms: Names And Meanings
Start at the top. The crest is a three-dimensional figure mounted above the helmet. It rests on a twisted band of cloth called the wreath, or torse. Flowing from the helm is the mantling, the stylized cloth that frames the display. Many crests sit on a small crown or cap instead of a wreath in some traditions.
Drop to the center and you meet the shield, also called the escutcheon. This is the heart of the arms and the part that must be unique to its owner. Its surface may be split by division lines, colored with metals and colors known as tinctures, and charged with figures like lions, stars, or tools. Shapes on the shield follow a shared visual grammar so that trained readers can blazon—describe—any design in words.
Below or around the shield, many arms include supporters. These are figures—often animals or people—shown holding up the shield. Supporters stand on a base called the compartment, a patch of ground or an object. Near the base you may see a scroll with a motto: a short phrase that sums up the owner’s values or story.
Some displays add badges, orders, decorations, or a banner. Not every grant includes them. The exact mix depends on local law and custom, the rank of the armiger, and the purpose of the design—family, civic, or corporate.
Shield: The Center Of The Arms
The shield shows fields, divisions, and charges. Fields are the background areas. Divisions split the field with lines like per pale (down the middle), per fess (across), or quarterly (four quarters). Charges are the figures: beasts, plants, tools, celestial signs, and simple shapes called ordinaries such as the bend, fess, chevron, and cross.
Tinctures come in three groups. Metals are gold (or) and silver (argent). Colors include gules (red), azure (blue), sable (black), vert (green), and purpure (purple). Furs such as ermine and vair use patterned spots. A classic rule keeps strong contrast by avoiding color on color and metal on metal.
Helmet, Wreath, Mantling, And Crest
The helmet style can signal rank or period. Placed above the shield, it bears the wreath—a two-color twist made from the main tinctures of the arms. The crest sits on that wreath, cap, or coronet. The mantling flows from the helm, often drawn as slashed leaves to echo battle wear and sun-faded cloth.
Crests add quick recognition at a distance. Medieval tourneys used them for signaling, and modern grants keep the tradition. In written blazon, the crest is described in a set order, just as the shield is. When someone says “family crest,” they often mean the entire achievement, but in heraldry the crest is only the figure on top.
Supporters, Compartment, And Motto
Supporters, when present, flank the shield. They can be real or mythical creatures, human figures, or objects set upright. They rest on the compartment, which might be a grassy mount, waves, a rock, or a symbolic platform. Below, a scroll carries the motto in a short line of text.
Who gets supporters varies by country. Some systems reserve them for states, cities, peers, or notable institutions. Others grant them more widely. When supporters are absent, the shield, helm, crest, mantling, and motto still form a complete and proper display.
How The Pieces Work Together
Think of an achievement as a layered diagram with a flow. The eye reads from shield to crest and then out to supporters and base. Artists balance mass and white space so the shield remains the star while the top and sides frame it.
Good design respects tincture contrast, keeps charges bold and few, and repeats shapes between shield and crest. Supporters often echo the main charge or a theme in the arms. The motto brings voice, turning symbols into a short line of meaning.
When you want an official breakdown, see the parts of a coat of arms from Canada’s heraldic authority, and the concise description of the crest and wreath from Britannica.
Regional Habits And Small Differences
Rules remain shared across countries, yet habits differ. Scottish practice leans on clan badges and a strong law of cadency. English grants often show one helmet style for each rank. Canadian grants embrace new symbols, including Indigenous motifs, while still using shield, crest, mantling, motto, and supporters.
Placement shifts slightly too. Some systems put the motto above the crest; others place it below the shield. Coronets vary by rank and nation. Award ribbons, collars of orders, and flags may hang around or behind the shield when the grant calls for them.
Tinctures And Common Terms
| Term | Meaning | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Or / Argent | Gold and silver (drawn as yellow and white) | Pair metals with colors for contrast |
| Gules / Azure | Red and blue | Work well with gold or silver |
| Sable / Vert / Purpure | Black, green, purple | Avoid stacking color on color |
| Ermine / Vair | Classic furs with spot patterns | Use sparingly for texture |
| Ordinaries | Bend, fess, chevron, cross, pale | Keep bold and simple |
| Divisions | Per pale, per fess, quarterly | Split space to carry more ideas |
| Charges | Figures placed on the field | Repeat shapes between shield and crest |
Reading A Blazon Without A Picture
Blazon is the compact language used to describe arms so any artist can redraw them. A blazon starts with the shield: field, divisions, charges, positions. Then it moves to the crest, wreath, helm, mantling, and supporters, and it ends with the motto. Once you learn the order, you can imagine the layout from the words alone.
Design Tips When Commissioning Arms
Keep the shield simple. Two or three bold charges beat a crowded scene. Pick a short motto that you can quote in speech. Ask your artist to echo one idea from the shield in the crest to bind the set.
Check contrast at small sizes, since seals and avatars shrink fast. Plan a one-color version for stamps or embroidery. If your country has an authority, work with it for a grant that fits local rules.
Crest Versus Coat Of Arms: Clear Difference
People often ask, “what are the parts of the coat of arms?” and then point to the crest alone. In heraldry, the crest is only the figure on top of the helmet, while the coat of arms lives on the shield itself. The full display that includes both is the heraldic achievement.
Symbols You See Again And Again
Lions, eagles, and stags are common. Plants such as roses or thistles flag place ties. Simple shapes—chevrons, bends, pales—give clear structure.
Tools speak to trades: anchors for seafarers, keys for guardianship, stars for guidance. Echo one idea in both shield and crest.
Legal And Grant Basics
Many countries run a grant process. Applicants send proof of identity and a design brief. A herald checks that the shield is unique and writes the blazon.
Where no authority exists, artists lean on shared custom so arms still follow the same parts and order. That way a viewer anywhere can read the shield, crest, and motto without confusion.
Simple Worksheet For Planning A Design
Pick one symbol for your story. Choose two tinctures and one metal. Write a short motto of five words or fewer. Sketch a shield with no more than three charges.
Add a crest that echoes the shield. Leave room for mantling. Think about supporters only if your system allows them. Prepare a one-color version for stamps or embroidery.
If you ever forget the order, ask yourself, “what are the parts of the coat of arms?” Say them from top to bottom and you’ll keep the structure straight while you design.
What Are The Parts Of The Coat Of Arms? Quick Recap
Top to bottom: crest on wreath and helm, mantling around, shield at center, supporters to the sides, compartment below, motto on a scroll. Extras such as badges, orders, and banners appear when the grant allows them. That’s the full picture. Use it with confidence.