This ClipArt gallery offers 243 illustrations of charges that would typically be seen in heraldry. A charge is any image, normally an animal, person, or plant, that is on the shield of a coat of arms.
Cross Potent
"Cross potent. CROSS. An honourable ordinary, more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the…
Cross Quarterly
"Cross Quarterly is a Cross cut by a partition line, and the tinctures reversed or counter-changed."—Aveling,…
Cross Recercelée
"The Cross Recercelée is very similar to the Cross Moline, but the extremities are curled backwards."—Aveling,…
Cross urdee
A cross-urdee is one in which the extremities are drawn to a sharp paint instead of being cut straight.
Cross Voided
"A Cross voided is not unlike the Cross double parted, but the bars do not run through or across the…
Four Fusils in Cross
"It will be observed that the charge upon the shield in this instance is not the Cross, but the lozenges."—Aveling,…
Frimbriated Cross
"The Fimbriated Cross is a cross having a border of another tincture, generally for the purpose of allowing…
Curtana
"CURTANA. The pointless sword of mercy is the principal in dignity of the three swords that are borne…
Dolphin Embowed
"Gules, a dolphin naiant embowed or. EMBOWED. Any thing bent or curved, like a bow." -Hall, 1862
Double Quatrefoil
"Ninth Son, the DOUBLE QUATREFOIL. The differences used by armorists at the present time are nine in…
Dragon
"Argent, a dragon proper, tail nowed. DRAGON.. An imaginary monster; a mixture of beast, bird, and reptile.…
Eagle
The heraldic charge of the eagle is one of the earliest charges. It holds the same rank that the lion…
Eagle Beaked
"An eagle's head erased, beaked, or. BEAKED. The beak of a bird being of a different tint from the body…
Eagle Displayed
"Argent, an eagle displayed sable. DISPLAYED. A bird whose wings are expanded and legs spread is said…
Eagle en Arrière
"Argent, an eagle proper en arrière. EN ARRIÈRE. An expression borrowed from the French,…
Ensign
"Argent (silver), a heart gules (red), ensigned with a royal crown. In heraldry, to distinguish (a charge)…
Erased
"A Lion's Head Erased. In heraldry, represented as having been forcibly torn off, the separated parts…
Escalop
"ESCALOP. The shell of a sea-fish, used to decorate the palmers on their way to and from Palestine;…
Etoile
"ETOILE. The French word for a star. It differs from the mullet in the number of points, and four of…
Heraldic Shield with a Lion's Face
The shield of a knight of the time of Edward II. The lion's face is a common charge in heraldry.
Fleur-de-Lis
"FLEUR-DE-LIS. Supposed to represent the garden-lily. It is the bearing of the Bourbons of France, but…
Fleur-De-Lis Difference
"Sixth Son, the FLEUR-DE-LIS. The differences used by armorists at the present time are nine in number.…
Fountain Charge
"A roundel, barry wavy of six argent and azure, or more rarely having a greater number of barrulets."…
Foxes Counter Salient
"Argent, two foxes counter salient. COUNTER SALIENT. Two animals leaping different ways from each other."…
Fusil
"Or, a fusil purpure. THE FUSIL. Is longer than the lozenge: the upper and lower ends are more acute."…
Fusil Azure
"Fusil, In heraldry, a bearing differing from the lozenge in being longer in proportion to its breadth,…
Galley
"GALLEY. An ancient vessel propelled by oars; frequently used in shields of naval officers." -Hall,…
Gambe
"GAMBE. An obsolete French word, signifying a leg, and is still used in Heraldry, for the leg of a lion…
Garbe
"Argent, a garbe proper. GARBE. The heraldic term for a sheaf of any kind of corn." -Hall, 1862
Three Lions Passant Gardant
Three Lions Passant Gardant. The escutcheon shows three lions passant (walking left with a leg raised)…
Gutty
"GUTTY. A term derived from the Latin word gutta, a drop. A field bearing drops, as in the example,…
Habergeon
"Argent, an habergeon proper. HABERGEON. A coat of mail: it is also called a corslet and cuirass." -Hall,…
Hand and Bordure
"Argent, a sinister hand couped at the wrist and erected gules, within a bordure azure. BORDURE or BORDER.…
Haurient
"Argent, a salmon proper haurient. HAURIENT. A fish, in a perpendicular direction, with its head upwards."…
Heart Ensigned
"Argent, a man's heart gules, ensigned with a celestial crown or. ENSIGNED. This word, in heraldic description,…
Closed Helmet Direct
"The closed helmet seen in profile is appropriated to esquires and gentlemen." -Hall, 1862
Grated Helmet Direct
"The position of the helmet is a mark of distinction. The direct front view of the grated helmet belongs…
Open Helmet Direct
"The helmet without bars, with the beaver open, standing directly fronting the spectator, denotes a…
Grated Helmet Profile
"The grated helmet in profile is common to all degrees of peerage under a duke." -Hall, 1862
Hart at Speed on Heraldic Badge
Illustration of a heraldic badge decorated with a hart, running. The hart is a common symbol in heraldry.
