Escutcheon is the term used in heraldry for the shield displayed in a coat of arms. An inescutcheon is a smaller escutcheon borne within a larger escutcheon. The escutcheon shape is based on the Medieval shields that were used by knights in combat. Since this shape has been regarded as a war-like device appropriate to men only, ladies customarily bear their coat of arms upon a lozenge, or diamond-shape, while clergymen bear theirs on a cartouche, or oval. Heraldry is the science and art of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats-of-arms (also referred to as armorial bearings or simply as arms). Its origins lie in the need to distinguish participants in battles or jousts and to describe the various devices they carried or painted on their... Statue showing a Gallic shield with a butterfly boss. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... A lozengy field, in the arms of the former urban district council of Eastwood, Nottinghamshire The lozenge in heraldry is a diamond-shaped charge (an object that can be placed on the field of the shield), usually somewhat narrower than it is tall. ... Cartouche of the Pharaoh Khufu A cartouche, in Egyptian hieroglyphs, is an oblong enclosure with a vertical line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name. ...
Derived from its meaning in heraldy, the term "escutcheon" can be used to represent a family and its honour. A family member who does something shameful can be described as a "blot on the escutcheon."
Other meanings
An escutcheon is also an item of door furniture. In this case, it is an architectural item that surrounds a keyhole or lock cylinder. Escutcheons are mainly decorative; they draw the eye to the keykole, but some help to protect a lock cylinder from drilling, snapping etc.
An escutcheon is also used in bathroom plumbing. It is the chrome plate behind a knob on a shower's temperature and water flow control.
In the German army under the Nazi reign, military awards worn on the sleeve near the shoulder were also called escutcheon or shields.
The Heraldry Series
Blazon | Cadency | Canting arms | Coat of arms | Officers of Arms Door furniture refers to any of the items that are attached to a door or a drawer to enhance its functionality or appearance. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Nazism. ... Heraldry is the science and art of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats-of-arms (also referred to as armorial bearings or simply as arms). Its origins lie in the need to distinguish participants in battles or jousts and to describe the various devices they carried or painted on their... This is an article about Heraldry. ... See also Cadency (name) and cadency name Cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family. ... Queen Mothers funerary hatchment, showing the canting bows and lions of Bowes-Lyon Canting arms is a technique used in European heraldry whereby the name of the individual or community represented in a coat of arms is translated into a visual pun. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Dr. Conrad Swan, while York Herald, one of thirteen officers of arms at the College of Arms. ...
Badge | Crest | Compartment | Mantling | Mon | Quartering | Shield | Supporters Heraldic badges were common in the Middle Ages particularly in England. ... In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ... In heraldry, a compartment is a design placed under the shield, usually rocks, a grassy mount, or some sort of other landscape upon which the supporters are depicted as standing (a compartment without supporters is possible but practically unknown, with the exception of South Australia[1]). It is sometimes said... In heraldry, mantling is drapery depicted tied to the helmet above the shield. ... The chrysanthemum (kiku), seen in gold between the four bursts of this Breast Star of the Order of Chrysanthemum (a medal), is the mon of the Japanese Emperor. ... Quartering in heraldry is a method of joining several different coats of arms together in one shield by dividing the shield into not more than four equal parts and placing different coats of arms in each division. ... In heraldry, supporters are figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. ...
Azure, an inescutcheon argent overall a bend compony argent and gules.
Gyronny of eight or and azure, an inescutcheon gules, on a chief or a lion passant sable armed and langued gules.
Quarterly, gules an escarbuncle or, and or a fess checky argent and gules, overall an inescutcheon quarterly, France Ancient within a bordure compony argent and gules, and bendy of five or and azure within a bordure gules, overall an inescutcheon or charged with a lion rampant sable armed and langued gules.
Besides being the official national coat of arms, the greater coat of arms is also the personal coat of arms of the king, and as such he can decree its use as a personal coat of arms by other members of the Royal House, with the alterations and additions decided by him.
Blazon: "The greater state arms consist of a head shield azure, quartered by a cross or with outbent arms, and an inescutcheon containing the dynastic arms of the Royal House.
The inescutcheon is party per pale the arms for the House of Vasa and the House of Bernadotte.