A Heraldic Primer: Other Charges

There are a myriad of other charges which are used in period armory. These range from the simple everyday objects, such as tools and household goods, to weapons and armor and even structures and body parts. The examples below are but a tiny sample of the array of available charges.

Tools, such as the addice(hoe), water-bouget and scythe

Household goods, such as the cauldron, chalice and stool

Musical instruments, such as the clarion, harp and horn

Weapons, such as the axe, a sheaf of arrows, the pheon and the sword

Clothing and armor, such as the gauntlet, the helm and the maunche (a sleeve)

Man-made structures, such as the altar, the arch and the tower

Body parts, such as an arm, a savage's head and a hand