A complete coat of arms, known as the achievement, includes the shield, also called escutcheon, which is the most important element; the crest; and the motto. The achievement may also be embellished with a helmet; a torse, or wreath out of which the crest rises above the helmet; and the mantling, or lambrequin. This is a scarflike decoration hanging from the helmet. Its two sides are of different colors, so it is doubled over in places to show both surfaces. Supporters are used only by royalty, the peerage, and certain orders of knighthood.

The blazon is the verbal description of a shield. The reference points, colors, and furs are shown .

The color of the field is always named first; then the principal charge or charges with their location and color; then the secondary charges.

For example, the blazon of George Washington's shield [ #9 ] reads as follows: "Argent, two bars gules, in chief three mullets, of the second." This means: a silver (argent) field, crossed by two red (gules) horizontal bars; in the upper third (chief) are three mullets of the second color mentioned (red). The mullet (the cadency mark of the third son) represents not a star, but the rowel of a spur.

Information and artwork from © 1995, Compton's New Media, Inc.

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