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HERALDRY.
tuft), originated in the thirteenth century; and, towering above other objects,
served to distinguish the combatants when engaged in conflict. No crest is
ever found on the arms borne by females. Unless otherwise stated, it is always
on the wreath; which need not, therefore, be named on the blazon.
Supporters are figures placed on each side of the shield in coats-of-arms; and,
as the name indicates, seem to hold it up. In England, the right to bear sup-
porters is confined to Peers of the Realm, Knights of the Garter and Bath, and
to those who may have obtained them by royal grant. The Garter-King-at-arms
has no right to grant them to any person of lower rank than a Knight of the
Bath, unless acting under special directions from the Sovereign; but in Scotland,
Lord Lyon may, by virtue of his office, do so without any royal warrant. In
Scotland, the right to bear supporters is universally conceded to the chiefs of
the various clans.
DIVISIONS OF THE SHIELD.
The surface of the escutcheon, or shield, is called the field, and is divided into
the following parts, A, B, C: the chief, sub-divided into A, the dexter, or right-
hand chief point; B, the middle chief point; C, the sinister, or left-hand chief point;
D, the collar, or honor-point; E, the heart, or fess-point; F, the nombriel, or
naval-point; and G, H, I, the base, sub-divided into G, the dexter base-point; H,
the middle base-point; and I, the sinister base-point.
TINCTURES USED IN ARMS.
The shield, or escutcheon, in arms is distinguished by certain armorial colors,
called tinctures, which are separated by division lines which run across the
shield, and are ornamented with animals, instruments, and other objects called
charges. The tinctures used in heraldry are metals, colors, and furs; and by
the ancient heralds precious stones were used. (See heraldic tables.)
OR-gold, is known in uncolored drawings and engravings by small dots or
points on the white surface.
ARGENT - silver, is expressed by a plain, white surface in the shield, in uncol-
ored views.
AZURE-blue, is depicted by horizontal lines, finely drawn across the surface
of the shield.
GULES―red, is depicted by perpendicular lines, finely drawn from the top to
the base of the shield.
VERT-green, is depicted by lines running from the dexter chief- to the sini-
ster base-points on the shield.
SABLE- black, is depicted by cross-lines running horizontally and perpendic-
ularly across the shield.
PURPURE- purple, is depicted by lines running from the sinister chief- to the
dexter base-points on the shield.
ERMINE - a white shield with black spots, representing ermine fur worn by
members of the royal household.
ERMINES- -a black shield with white spots, - an exact contrast to the former.
ERMINOIS a gold surface to the shield, with black spots.
PEARL a shield with black surface, filled with gold spots.
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VAIR-composed originally of pieces of fur, but now of silver and blue colors,
cut to resemble the flower of the campanula, and opposed to each other in rows.
When depicted in colors, they are specified vairé.
COUNTER-VAIR-differs from vair by having the bells, or cups, arranged base
against base and point against point, just the reverse of vair.
POTENT-COUNTER-POTENT — is composed of figures, resembling crutch-heads,
placed in rows upon the white shield.
