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Inheraldry, anescutcheon (/ɪˈskʌtʃən/,ih-SKUTCH-ən) is ashield that forms the main or focal element in anachievement of arms. The word can be used in two related senses. In the first sense, an escutcheon is the shield upon which acoat of arms is displayed. In the second sense, an escutcheon can itself be acharge within a coat of arms.
Escutcheon shapes are derived from actual shields that were used byknights in combat, and thus are varied and developed by region and by era. Since shields have been regarded as military equipment appropriate for men only, British ladies customarily bear their arms upon alozenge, or diamond-shape, while clergymen and ladies in continental Europe bear their arms upon acartouche, or oval. Other shapes are also in use, such as theroundel commonly used for arms granted toAboriginal Canadians by theCanadian Heraldic Authority, or theNguni shield used inAfrican heraldry (likewise,Christian organisations andMasonic bodies tend to use the same shape, also known as avesica piscis).
Although an escutcheon can be used as a charge on its own, the most common use of an escutcheon charge is to display another coat of arms as a form ofmarshalling. Such escutcheon charges are usually given the same shape as the main shield. When there is only one escutcheon charge, it is sometimes called aninescutcheon.
The wordescutcheon (late 15th century) is based on Old North Frenchescuchon ('shield').[a]
The earliest depictions of proto-heraldic shields in the second half of the 12th century still have the shape of the Normankite shield used throughout the 11th and 12th centuries. By about the 1230s, shields used byheavy cavalry had become shorter and more triangular, now calledheater shields.
Transitional forms intermediate between kite and heater are seen in the late 12th to early 13th centuries. Transition to the heater was essentially complete by 1250. For example, the shield ofWilliam II Longespée (d. 1250) shown with his effigy at Salisbury Cathedral is triangular, while the shield shown on the effigy of his fatherWilliam Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury (d. 1226) is still of a more elongated form.
The shield on the enamel monument toGeoffrey V, Count of Anjou (d. 1151) is of almost full-body length. The heater was used in warfare during the apogee of theAge of Chivalry, at about the time of theBattle of Crecy (1346) and the founding of theOrder of the Garter (1348). The shape is therefore used in armorials from this "classical age" of heraldry.
Beginning in the 15th century, and even more throughout theearly modern period, a great variety of escutcheon shapes developed.In theTudor era the heraldic escutcheon became more square,[3] taking the shape of an invertedTudor arch. Continental European designs frequently use the various forms used in jousting, which incorporate "mouths" used as lance rests into the shields; such escutcheons are known asà bouche. The mouth is correctly shown on the dexter side only, as jousting pitches were designed for right-handed knights. Heraldic examples of English shieldsà bouche can be seen in thespandrels of the trussed timber roof ofLincoln's Inn Hall, London.
The shape of the top, the sides and the base may be separately described, and these elements may be freely combined.[4] The highly complexBaroque style shields of the 17th century come in many artistic variations.
!["Square Iberian" or Iberian style (square top, rounded base), 15th century[5]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCoA_sample_260x300.svg)
![Bouched or bouché side ("German" or "Dutch" style), 15th century.[b]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aGerman_Escutcheon.svg)
!["Polish" style, 17th century[7]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aPolish_Escutcheon.svg)
!["French" style, 17th century[c]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCoA_modFrench2_260x300.svg)
![Two engrailed top, 19th century[d]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSwiss_Escutcheon.svg)
InEnglish heraldry, the lozenge has been used by women since the 13th century[11] for the display of their coats of arms instead of the escutcheon or shield, which are associated with warfare. In this case the lozenge is shown withoutcrest orhelm. For the practical purpose of categorisation the lozenge may be treated as a variety of heraldic escutcheon.
Traditionally, very limited categories of women would have been able to display their own arms, for example a female monarch—who uses an escutcheon as a military commander, not a lozenge—andsuo jurepeeresses, who may display their own arms alone on a lozenge even if married.[12]In general a woman was represented by her paternal armsimpaled by the arms of her husband on an escutcheon as a form ofmarshalling.
In modern Canadian heraldry, and certain other modern heraldic jurisdictions, women may be granted their own arms and display these on an escutcheon.[citation needed] Life peeresses in England display their arms on a lozenge.[12]An oval orcartouche is occasionally also used instead of the lozenge for armigerous women.
As a result of rulings of the EnglishKings of Arms dated 7 April 1995 and 6 November 1997,[13] married women in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and in other countries recognising the jurisdiction of theCollege of Arms in London (such as New Zealand) also have the option of using their husband's arms alone, marked with a small lozenge as adifference to show that the arms are displayed for the wife and not the husband;[14] or of using their own personal arms alone, marked with a small shield as abrisure for the same reason.[15]Divorced women may theoretically until remarriage use their ex-husband's arms differenced with amascle.[16]Widowed women normally display a lozenge-shaped shield impaled, unless they are heraldic heiresses, in which case they display a lozenge-shaped shield with the unalteredescutcheon of pretence in the centre.[17] Women in same-sex marriages may use a shield or banner to combine arms, but can use only a lozenge or banner when one of the spouses dies.[18]
The points of the shield refer to specific positions thereon and are used inblazons to describe where acharge should be placed.[19]
An inescutcheon is a smaller escutcheon that is placed within or superimposed over the main shield of a coat of arms. In practice, the wordsinescutcheon andescutcheon are often used interchangeably.[21]
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The currentdiplomatic emblem of France incorporates thepelta escutcheon, a wide form of shield (orgorget) with a small animal head pointing inward at each end.[citation needed]This is Roman in origin; although not the shape of their classic shield, many brooches of this shape survive from antiquity.[citation needed]A form of pelta appears as a decoration above the head of every official on theAusterlitz table, commissioned byNapoleon for propaganda purposes.[22]
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The term "console" inarchitecture is generally used for elements which provide support, such ascorbels on aconsole table.[e] Aconsole inheraldry is a decorative frame or support, generally in an architectural or illustrative context, surrounding a heraldicshield or escutcheon, which serves to add interest to and mitigate the harshness of the stark outline of the shield.
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