I thought I submitted the following last March but since no one commented, perhaps it never went through. I have been asked about Shields or Coat of Arms. I know very little, but what I do know may be of interest to someone. Also, please, correct me where I am wrong. Respectfully, Martha There is an important rule in healdry which states that metal must not rest on metal, (eg. silver on gold), nor color on color. this is becasue, when used for its origianl purpoe, the shield was also an identifier for soldiers. Clarity and contrast were import in battle. I don'r remember the exact definitions of terms such as 'field', 'chief', 'fes', etc. 'Arms', 'Crest', and 'Motto'. In the early days of heraldry, only the design on a shield was an an official coat-of-arms. Known as the 'Arms', it was displayed on garments, signs, wall-hangings, and banners, as well as being carried by knights on shields in battle and in the great tournaments of Medieval Europe. Later a 'Crest' was fastened to the helmet for further distinction. Later families added this as part of their armorial bearings. showing it above the shield in the family coat-of-arms. Usually a decorative knight's helmet was included and decorative cloths called 'Mantling' flowed gracefully from it. Official records described only the 'Arms' and the 'Crest' until about 1`500 when some families used the 'Motto'. 'Motos' were brief phrases expressing some pious, loyal, or moral sentiment and may be in any language. 'Blazonry' Heraldic designs on the shields may be very simple or extremely comples. The art of describing them in words became a precise science called 'Blazonery'. Most of the terms are unfamiliar today, but this special language must be understood by artists. Some of the common terms of blazonary are 'Colors'; OR yellow or gold ARGENT white or silver SABLE black GULES red AZURE blue VERT green ERMINE white with black tails