What is Good Heraldry? Well, for starters "good heraldry" doesn't mean "whatever looks best" or "feels right" to the would-be designer. There are time honored rules that one should follow in designing arms.

Granted there are very few people in this day and age designing a coat of arms so they can have a shield painted and crest carved for tournament or battle. Nevertheless, one should keep in mind that shields dating back to Middle Ages employed simple designs? Why? So the heralds could look across the field of battle and inform their respective lords about the identity of the opponents about to be engaged.

Why should one keep this practice of "simplicity" in mind today? Why not design a complex coat of arms and clutter it with numerous charges?

No, we're not lugging around shields these days, but ... we do use business cards and letterhead and designer address labels, etc. That's why the former South African State Herald, Mr. Brownell, advised me to keep the "postage stamp" test in mind. If the divisions and elements in the coat of arms you're designing can't be clearly made out and identified when the whole thing is reduced to the size of a high-resolution postage stamp, then ... it's time to go back to the drawing board.

In short, there's no point in using a coat of arms to identify yourself (or your company or organization) when the person viewing that coat of arms can't make it out or distinguish it from the arms or logo being used by someone else!

At any rate, ... the following are some good "Rules of Thumb" to follow when attempting to design a coat of arms:

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Try not use more than two colors and try not to use more than one metal (i.e., silver or gold). Further, remember the not to place "metal on metal" or "color on color". A gold shield charged with a silver cross isn't going to be viewable at a distance or when you shrink the arms. The same goes for a blue shield charged with a green lion, etc. Additionally, try not to use more than two charges.

2. KEEP IT UNIQUE! Don't infringe upon the rights of another armiger. If you feel (but can't prove) a connection to some armigerous individual or family with whom you happen to share a surname (but not necessarily a bloodline), then ... you "can" base your design on their arms; HOWEVER, ... you should change at least two elements (i.e., colors, metals, partition lines, charges, etc.). If you're going to seek registration of your design with some official heraldic authority and you can't prove your link to the historic person whose arms you wish to base your design on ... you'll be REQUIRED to change at least two elements.

3. AVOID THE "FROSTED LUCKY CHARMS" COAT OF ARMS! Remember that you're designing a personal coat of arms, not a national flag!!! If you're part French-Scottish-Irish-German there's no need to include a French fleur-de-lis, a Scottish thistle, an Irish harp and a German cross formee in your arms.

4. AVOID THE "DOG'S BREAKFAST" (i.e., vomit) COAT OF ARMS! Remember that a coat of arms shouldn't include symbols alluding to every interest or hobby that you have. Placing too many charges on a shield will make it look cluttered.

5. CANTING ARMS... A "cant" is a wordplay on one's name. If your surname is Archer, then ... including symbols that allude to archery on your arms would be a "cant". The same can be done with your given name, but remember that your arms will be used by your offspring and their heirs. In short, keep in mind that armorial bearings are as personal as they are familial.

Following these rules and guidelines will put you squarely on the road to good heraldry. Anyone else here have some pearls of wisdom to pass along?

Peace,

Steven