WHAT IS A COAT OF ARMS?

Well, a reliable and succinct definition comes from The Heraldry Society:

Although the essential and most important element, the shield is but one part of a coat arms. A full Achievement of Arms can (but not always will) consist of supporters, mantling, a compartment, a motto, a helmet, a wreath, a crest, a badge, a banner, a flag – and more. It can be reproduced in all manner of materials and today the art and craft of heraldry is still a thriving discipline in its own right.

But naturally I would direct you to THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HERALDRY for an American perspective. In the meantime, for a few decades now I have commissioned dozens of international heraldic artists (those whose work I can reasonably afford, and whose style appeals, of course) to emblazon my own armorial bearings, primarily to display all of them in one place to show potential armigers that it’s not the artwork that’s important (well, it is, but…) but rather the BLAZON. Obviously, as evidenced by this site, the same blazon can be rendered many different ways and still be correct.

If you would like additional information about a specific artist, click on the Heraldry link and look for the Artists page.

For clarification, the blazon for my entire Achievement is:

Azure, fretty raguly Or. Above the Shield is placed a Helmet with a Mantling Azure doubled Or, and on a Wreath Or and Azure is set for Crest, a satyr’s head Sanguine, wreathed with olive leaves Proper, with bat’s wings to the sides Azure, and in an Escrol below the Shield this Motto: “Melior Nullo Nullus Melior” (I am better than no man, but no man is my better). 

And, for those keeping score, the blazon of the Escutcheon in Irish is Gorm le fiteáin craobhach órga, and the motto in Irish is Níos fear tá mé níos fear ná aon fhear ach níl aon fhear liom.