Section B:  Shields, Ordinaries, & Geometric Charges

This section deals with the shapes and basic charges of armory.

Shields

Looking through history, there were many types and shapes of shields that were used.  For heraldry in the SCA, there are only 3 shapes that are typically used.

When submitting a device or badge, the forms already have a shape that you must use.  For display, however, you can use any shape you like.  The escutcheon is the most common.  The lozenge is most frequently seen in period for the arms of a woman.  The round shape is most frequently used for badges.

Within the shield shape, there are terms used to reference the different areas.  Below are the four main areas that you need to know.  There are additional terms to describe a location in more detail, but these are the ones you will most commonly see.

Ordinaries

In heraldry, an ordinary is a simple geometric shape, most often a stripe or a triangle.  There are two types of ordinaries.

• Central ordinaries are basic shapes that go through the center of the field.

• Peripheral ordinaries are basic shapes that are defined by the edges of the field.

Below are the most common ordinaries recognized in SCA heraldry.  There are some additional ordinaries, but they are primarily variations of the ones shown below.

Geometric Charges

In heraldry, a charge is any item that is placed upon the field.  There are a few that are considered simple geometric shapes, allowing them to be treated a little differently than other charges.

As mentioned above, these charges can be treated a little differently than other charges.  These charges are able to be pierced or voided.  Pierced means that you have punched a hole through the middle of the item.  Voided means that you have removed most of the interior.  Occasionally, this will give the charge a new name. A roundel pierced or voided becomes an annulet.  A lozenge has a different name depending on if it is pierced or voided.

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