Breastplate (heraldry)
In heraldry, a breast shield is a small coat of arms that is placed on the chest of the heraldic animal eagle , also known as the double-headed eagle . Other heraldic animals are, with a few exceptions, unsuitable.
This shield shows Herold images as opposed to mostly identically designed crest or often carries personal insignia ( Kurzepter , crosses all kinds, orb and other) of the crest leaders. The shield, like the back shield, can have many different fields, but the shield size should not obscure the eagle more than necessary. A crowning or endowment is possible. The blazon for the breast shield is coherent and not mixed with other parts of the coat of arms.
literature
- Walter Leonhard : The great book of heraldic art. Georg DW Callwey, Munich 1978.
Web links
Commons : Eagle with breastplate in the heraldry collection of images, videos and audio files
